MN Fair Care Introduces Non-discrimination bill

UPDATE MARCH 23: MN Fair Care has introduced its bill, “Patient Rights and Provider Non-Discrimination.”

At its January meeting Minnesota’s multi-disciplinary provider coalition, MN Fair Care agreed to introduce a bill during the state’s shortened legislative session. In mid-March they did so.

The timing for introducing the bill (HF 3291 in the House; SF 3046 in the Senate) is thought to be challenging because the session runs only from early March to late May (due to capitol building construction.) But the importance of focusing on the subject of non-discrimination, promoting the bill and identifying supporters in the legislature prior to the November election were strong incentives to bring the bill forward.

In addition, coalition coordinator Michele Maiers, DC, MPH, PhD of Northwestern Health Sciences U. reported on a positive meeting she and NWHSU lobbyist Dave Kunz had with Republican staff leaders earlier this year. They were interested to learn about the successes in Oregon and Rhode Island in 2015.

To see the sponsors for the bill in each chamber, a link to it — and to the MN Fair Care Facebook page! — see the Minnesota State Page.

Thanks to our colleagues at the American Sustainable Business Council, Ms. Maiers met recently with the chairperson of ASBC member Small Business Minnesota, which represents many of Minnesota’s 200,000 small businesses.

To get connected with the initiative, please see our Minnesota page.

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