Minnesota Exchange Shrouded In Secrecy
Minnesota's new health insurance exchange begins selling policies in less than two months, but the quietude by which the organization has been going about its business has raised concerns among the state's healthcare community.
The MnSure exchange has yet to release premium data for the estimated 1 million Minnesotans eligible to purchase insurance on the exchange, even though several other states have done so, including other Midwestern states such as Indiana.
The slow release of concrete information has become a cause for worry. Minnesota is one of just a handful of states with a governor and a majority of lawmakers in support of the Affordable Care Act, but some believe its deliberation is playing into the hands of critics who claim President Obama's healthcare reform legislation is unworkable.
Gathering premium data from health plans that are going to participate in the exchange is actually the duty of the Minnesota Department of Commerce. However, officials with that department say they are constrained under state law from disclosing premiums until Oct. 1, when MnSure officially begins operations. Agency officials have suggested that it may release a general summary of premiums before that date – much to the exasperation of MnSure officials.
“The sooner that you can get concrete information out is going to allow people to actually make some decisions – as opposed to generalized information,” said MnSure Chairman Brian Beutner. A Minneapolis-based healthcare consultant, Beutner previously had a long tenure as an executive with Minnetonka, Minn.-based health insurer UnitedHealth Group before being appointed chair of the exchange last May.
Yet even as Beutner has expressed concerns about the cooperation of other government agencies, MnSure officials have also said little about joint educational programs with providers, charitable organizations and other entities known as consumer assistance partners.
And MnSure has also been particularly guarded regarding the release of its own marketing campaign. Late last month, the agency asked the Minnesota Department of Administration on curbs regarding the information it can release until it is ready for public unveiling, including even the colors and promotional taglines that may be used.
“There is widespread misinformation regarding the Affordable Care Act, MNsure and health insurance exchanges being disseminated at this time,” a letter from the exchange to the MDA explained. “Furthermore, MNsure has particular concerns that entities may seek to unlawfully charge consumers for information or enrollment that is provided at no cost through the exchange.”
The veil of secrecy has begun to grate on providers such as hospitals, whose levels of charity care are likely to be impacted by how successful MNSure is in enrolling individuals into insurance plans.
“MNsure's response has been to ask for patience and trust while they work on the numerous steps in the implementation of the exchange,”said Matt Anderson, vice president of advocacy for the Minnesota Hospital Association. “For our members who will be on the front lines as patients look for information and help with enrollment, 'hurry up and wait' is concerning.”
In the meantime, MnSure has continued to seek applicants for a variety of advisory committees, and has been holding information webinars regarding the exchange's functions and outreach efforts.
