Legislative Priorities

2023 Legislative Priorities

MNASCA promotes the interests of the ASC community before the state legislature as well as state regulatory and executive agencies. MNASCA identifies and analyzes critical issues affecting ASCs and acts on behalf of members to enhance and protect the ASC’s ability to provide high quality, cost-effective patient care.

The 2023 Legislative Session is set to begin on January 3rd. With the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) having secured the Minnesota State House, Senate, and Governor's Office this election cycle, the DFL's focus will be on creating the next two-year state budget and spend a 9 billion dollar budget surplus that was left on the table during the last session.

In contrast to the previous legislative session, Minnesota will no longer have a divided legislature. Instead, both chambers of the legislature will now be controlled by the DFL. This dynamic can lead to more productivity in the legislature, however, this cannot happen without the full cooperation between DFLers of both chambers. Because of the DFL's one seat majority in the Senate, Senate DFLers will have to find agreement among themselves in order to pass laws.

The leadership in the Minnesota House will remain similar, but with some changes. Representative Melissa Hortman will continue as Speaker of the House. With the retirement of Rep. Ryan Winkler, the House DFL elected Rep. Jamie Long to act as House Majority Leader. Rep. Kurt Daudt, who was previously the GOP House Minority Leader, did not seek a leadership role this session. Instead, Rep. Lisa Demuth was elected to serve as GOP House Minority Leader, making her the first Black woman to lead any of the state's legislative caucuses, and the first woman to lead House Republicans. 

Lastly, leadership in the Minnesota Senate will be entirely different this session since the DFL has won over the Senate. Senator Bobby Joe Champion will become President of the Senate, making him the first Black President of the Minnesota State Senate. With the retirement of Senator and DFL Minority Leader Melissa Lopez-Franzen, Senator Kari Dziedic was elected to be the Senate DFL's Majority Leader. Senator Jeremy Miller, having won his reelection bid, also did not seek a leadership role this session. Instead, Senator Mark Johnson will lead the Senate GOP as their Minority Leader. 

MNASCA’s priorities for the 2023 legislative session currently include:

• Oppose legislation mandating a charge master list of prices be published on the ASC’s website for ASC’s (modeled after the Hospital Price Transparency Federal Rule)
• Support the CANDOR patient communication initiative
• Address ongoing issues with Prior Authorization and support reform efforts such as requirement of a Gold Card option
• Support changes that would address provider exclusion or narrow networks and allow recourse for providers such as the ability to appeal
• Oppose the reduction or elimination of cost recovery for medical records in Workers Compensation cases
• Oppose any market restrictions on ASCs such as certificate of need or moratoriums
• Support changes to the MN Health Records Act to align with federal HIPPA laws to improve efforts to better coordinate patient care and reduce duplication of services
• Support anti white-bagging legislation to remove requirements that clinically infused drugs be purchased exclusively through an insurers' specialty pharmacy
• Monitor the Minnesota Department of Health’s x-ray rule modifications- particularly around the use of fluoroscopy, CT and MRI