Bill > SF1288

This bill establishes a legal framework for direct primary care (DPC) service agreements in Minnesota, creating a new model of healthcare delivery that operates outside traditional insurance regulations. The bill defines direct primary care as a written agreement between a primary care provider and a patient, where the patient pays a monthly fee for access to a specified range of primary care services, including routine health screenings, assessments, diagnosis, treatment, medical supplies, prescription drugs, and basic laboratory work. The agreement must be in writing, clearly state that it is not health insurance, and allow either party to terminate the contract with proper notice. The bill specifies that DPC practices cannot discriminate against patients based on health status, can only decline patients under specific circumstances (such as reaching practice capacity), and must maintain transparent billing practices. Importantly, the legislation exempts DPC agreements from insurance regulations, meaning providers do not need special insurance licenses to offer these services, and the agreements are not considered health insurance products. The bill also includes consumer protections, such as requirements for advance notice of fee changes, restrictions on fee variations, and mandates for maintaining patient records and preventing deceptive marketing practices.

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https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF1288&ssn=0&y=2025