Minnesota State Senate Passes Legislation to Eliminate Managed 
Care for
No-Fault Auto Patients

On March 19, 2002, the Minnesota House voted overwhelmingly in 
agreement
with the Senate to eliminate any chance that managed care will 
adversely
affect the care provided to no-fault auto accident victims.  Both 
votes
were without opposition, a historic first and a reflection of the
importance of this issue to MN legislators and their constituents.

Over one year ago, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, Inc., had put 
into
place a managed care network that laid the groundwork for managed 
care
penetrating the care of injured drivers.  Highly unpopular with 
patients,
the failures of managed care to control costs or improve quality 
stood out
especially for victims of auto accident injuries, especially in light 
of
the longer recovery victims of soft tissue injuries often face.  

A groundswell of opposition by patients and providers moved this 
effort
ahead, and a moratorium was placed on it last year by the 
Legislature. 
This year the moratorium became a ban.

Testimony by the insurance industry that systemic problems exist 
that
drive up costs for all consumers was not convincing for Minnesota
Legislators, who rebuffed efforts to expand managed care efforts, 
even as
managed care as a system is coming under more and more criticism 
for its
failure to control escalating health care premiums.  The Minnesota
Chiropractic Association, with assistance from Northwestern and 
other
interests, spearheaded the coordination of the communication 
between
patients and their elected officials.
http://www.nwhealth.edu.