Bill > SF3556

This bill urges federal agencies to restore patient protection laws by repealing waivers that have allowed certain practices to bypass existing regulations. Specifically, it calls for the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to repeal waivers of antitrust laws, which are designed to prevent monopolies and unfair business practices, and for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to repeal waivers of anti-fee-splitting and anti-self-referral laws. Anti-fee-splitting laws generally prohibit healthcare providers from paying or receiving compensation for patient referrals, while anti-self-referral laws aim to prevent providers from profiting from services they refer patients to if they have a financial interest in those services. The bill also seeks an amendment to federal law, specifically the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, to ensure that clinics and hospitals have the freedom to choose whether or not to enter into contracts where payment is based on the volume of services ordered, a practice that critics argue can incentivize unnecessary care. The context for these requests stems from concerns that these waivers have led to the formation of corporate cartels, shifted financial risk onto healthcare providers, and potentially compromised physician loyalty to patients by turning them into "gatekeepers" who may be rewarded for rationing care.

Health and Social Services

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/94/2026/0/SF/3556/