Gov. Tim Pawlenty appointed 13 members to the newly created Health Care Transformation Task Force charged with developing an action plan to transform Minnesota's health care system. The task force was created as part of the 2007 Omnibus Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill that was signed by Pawlenty in May. The action plan created by the task force will include strategies to reduce health care costs 20 percent by 2011.

"The current health care system is broken and unsustainable," Pawlenty said. "Progress in this area requires more than just reform - we need bold action to redesign the system. This bipartisan group of experts will identify strategies to further change the way we purchase health care."

Based on the legislation, the task force will develop "a statewide action plan for transforming the health care system to improve affordability, quality, access and the health status of Minnesotans." The report will be presented to the governor and the legislature by Feb. 1, 2008, and may contain recommended legislative and administrative actions, as well actions of individuals and individual organizations. The action plan must include the following, with specific and measurable goals and deadlines for each:

• Actions that will reduce health care expenditures by 20 percent by January 2011 and limit the rate of growth in health care spending to no greater than the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers plus two percentage points each year thereafter.
• Actions that will increase affordable health coverage options for all Minnesotans and other strategies that will ensure all Minnesotans have health coverage by January 2011.
• Actions to improve the quality and safety of health care and reduce racial and ethnic disparities in access and quality.
• Actions that will improve the health status of Minnesotans and reduce the rate of preventable chronic illness.
• Proposed changes to state health care purchasing and payment strategies that will promote higher-quality, lower-cost health care.
• Actions that will promote the appropriate and cost-effective investment in new facilities, technologies and drugs.
• Options for serving small employers and their employees and self-employed individuals.
• Actions to reduce administrative costs.

The task force consists of 13 members appointed by the governor and four state legislators. It will be co-chaired by Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL-07A) and Human Services Commissioner Cal Ludeman who also serves as chair of Pawlenty's health cabinet.