Senate HHS committee unveils omnibus HHS finance bill, moves amendment to expand provider rates and public health funding

The Minnesota Senate Finance Committee on March 25 took up the Health and Human Services omnibus finance and policy bill (Senate File 2669), heard agency testimony, and adopted a large, multi‑section A58 amendment that incorporates technical clarifications, fee changes, program language and appropriations.

Senator Wicklund, chief author of the HHS omnibus, said the bill is designed to protect Minnesotans’ access to health care amid federal funding uncertainty and to strengthen coverage and provider sustainability without relying solely on general fund cuts. “We avoid cuts to basic coverage and continue some essential coverages that are set to expire,” Wicklund said during opening remarks.

Key policy and budget items in the bill as presented include: maintaining audio‑only telehealth coverage that would otherwise expire in summer; a change to formulary rules to limit mid‑year plan changes for drugs; investments to replace or upgrade the Social Services Information System (SSIS) used by child welfare workers; a proposed assessment on health insurers to fund increased reimbursement rates for outpatient mental health and physician services up to Medicare levels; and a provider assessment to support a directed payment program for hospitals. Wicklund said the bill uses assessments on insurers and…