Minnesota Agencies

The task force shall advise the Commissioner of Commerce on the design and development of a Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange. The task force shall regularly report all findings and recommendations to the Governor's Subcabinet for Health Reform, which consists of the Commissioners of Commerce, Human Services, and Health. The task force will provide guidance and recommendations on a number of policy, technical, and operational issues, including, but not limited to:

- Size of the small group market
- Merger of the individual and small group markets
- Provisions to avoid adverse selection
- Risk adjustment
- Cost, quality, and satisfaction rating for health insurers and health benefit plans
- Navigator/broker provisions
- Technical infrastructure
- Exchange operations
- Long-term governance
- Ongoing funding mechanisms

The Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force is expected to deliver final recommendations to Dayton and legislators in December for action by the Legislature in 2013.

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) into law. One week later, he also signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010, together referred to as the Affordable Care Act, the act, or federal health reform.

In response to federal health reform, many state legislatures and governors have begun setting up the infrastructure for implementing the new law. States have until January 1, 2013 to create their own health insurance exchanges, to be available to consumers beginning in 2014.

Minnesota received a $1 million planning grant in February, 2011 and is one of 13 states to receive additional funding, according to the Star Tribune. The Department of Commerce, in partnership with the Minnesota Departments of Human Services and Health, has been working on preliminary analytical, operational, and technical infrastructure planning for an exchange, according to a state press release.

A press release from the MN Department of Commerce dated August 12, 2011 announced that the state has received $4.2 million from the federal government to set up a health insurance exchange.The funding, awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, will be administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

On September 6, 2011, Minnesota Department of Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman announced an Advisory Task Force was being formed by the Department of Commerce. This task force will develop the Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange.

On October 31, 2011 Governor Mark Dayton issued an executive order establishing two separate health care task forces, one to work on broad health care reform initiatives (the Health Care Reform Task Force) and another to develop the state's health insurance exchange (the Health Insurance Exchange Advisory Task Force).

January 18, 2012, Minnesota is mentioned in a report released by the White House "highlighting Minnesota's efforts among nine other states as examples of the diverse approaches being taken across the country by the 28 states that have taken steps to implement the exchange".

January 30, 2012, Dayton presented recommendations from the Task Force that are intended to provide guidance for the legislation Sen. Tony Lourey and Rep. Joe Atkins plan to introduce in the 2012 session. These recommendations are linked to below.

As of September, 2012, Governor Dayton is shifting the project's oversight from the Department of Commerce to the state Management and Budget office. The move follows complaints that the Commerce Department was too secretive in developing a health insurance marketplace, and questions of possible conflict of interest for the department.

On March 20, 2013 Governor Dayton signed legislation creating 'MNsure' - Minnesota's new health insurance exchange.The bill (HF5/SF1) - establishes a new marketplace where Minnesotans can choose quality, affordable health coverage. Mnsure is Minnesota's new federally mandated central health insurance marketplace for Minnesotans; enrollment starts October 1 with coverage beginning January 1, 2014.

The Task Force has finalized its work plan is no longer meeting (noted on the MNsure website on Sept. 11, 2013).

15 members appointed by Commissioner Rothman and representing a balance of interests, including consumers, employers, labor, health care providers, health insurers, Medicaid, agents and those with experience navigating health plan enrollment, and experts in public and private health care markets and public health improvement. In addition, four legislators representing the majority and minority in both the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate will be appointed to the task force to serve as ex-officio members.
 

It is anticipated that appointments will be made in early October 2011 and that the first meeting will also be held in October 2011. Meetings will be held on at least a monthly, if not more frequent basis. In general, meetings shall be held in St. Paul, MN; however, some meetings may be held at various geographic locations throughout Minnesota.