From health care to minimum wage, a look at new laws in 2019 - KARE11.com
As a new year approaches, new laws will take effect in Minnesota and nationwide starting Jan. 1.
Health care
A new federal ruling requires hospitals to post prices online for medical procedures.
"What it's still not going to provide for patients is exactly how much you're going to be on the hook for after your insurance covers everything. It's going to tell us, generally... what a procedure costs," said David Schultz, a political science professor at Hamline University.
Schultz said it's aimed at addressing the issue of what's called surprise medical bills.
"The new federal law will require transparency in terms of these self-insured or self-financed health insurance plans that are regulated by what's called ERISA," Schultz said. "That's going to require more transparency for about half of the health care insurance plans in the United States. The Minnesota plan really covers the remainder."
The Minnesota plan Schultz is referring to is a new state law that goes into effect July 1, 2019. It will require health care providers to publicly post the prices of their top 25 most frequent procedures in their reception area and on their website.
"So together they give patients a better idea of what their bills are going to be so that they're not surprised and at least, theoretically, you could shop around a little bit on non-emergency type of health care issues," Schultz said.
Minimum wage
Minimum wage will increase in 20 states, including Minnesota. Minnesota's minimum wage will increase to adjust to inflation. Large-employers (an annual gross revenue of at least $500,000) must pay workers $9.86—21 cents more. Workers for small-employers will see a 17-cent hike at $8.04.
Schultz expects more minimum wage conversations at the state Capitol in 2019.
"What we're probably going to see also on top of this going up in Minnesota, is whether or not we're going to see at the state level a push to follow where Minneapolis and St. Paul have gone in terms of mandating $15 an hour minimum wage," Schultz said.
Identity theft
A new law is intended to keep children safe from identity theft. The law allows credit reporting agencies to freeze credit reports of those under the age of 16. It gives credit reporting agencies 30 days to act after someone requests a freeze or lift.
Treating PTSD
If a peace officer, firefighter, corrections officer or some medical personnel on active duty is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, and has not been previously diagnosed with it, it will be presumed to be job-related. The new law relates to workers' compensation.
You can find more information on all the new state laws, here.
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