New Minnesota Web Site Bares Info On Health Plans

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A new level of detail about nonprofit health plans that get more than $3 billion in annual state business is now online.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services launched the web site Monday under a directive from Gov. Mark Dayton.

It includes state contracts with BluePlus, HealthPartners and Medica and shows how much each program made on various state programs in recent years.

The state contracts with health plans to cover more than 500,000 people in public programs including Medical Assistance and MinnesotaCare.

Dayton ordered the site last month as he pushes to give the public more information about health plans. The Democratic governor is also pressuring health plans to voluntarily return surpluses to the state.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)