Capitol Report: Cutting Health Care Costs

Following the 2017 legislative session, Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka created the Senate Select Committee on Health Care Consumer Access and Affordability to look for ways to address the rising costs of health care. As lawmakers prepare for the upcoming 2018 session, the chair of the committee, Senator Scott Jensen, R-Chaska, joined Capitol Report moderator Shannon Loehrke to talk about some possible recommendations.

Senator Melissa Wiklund, DFL-Bloomington, is the ranking minority member of the Select Committee on Health Care Consumer Access and Affordability. She talks with Shannon about potential cost savings in the areas of pharmaceutical prices, fee transparency, low-value services and end-of-life decision-making.

This week, Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans spoke on Governor Mark Dayton's behalf when releasing a hefty $1.5 billion dollar public works plan. Commissioner Frans cited the tightening labor market as one reason for the almost $500 million dollar investment in infrastructure at both University of Minnesota and Minnesota State campuses. The remaining funds would support local water infrastructure projects, affordable housing projects and improvements to state buildings and other public assets.