Today, MinnPost covered the Department of Health and Human Services' new medical loss ratio (MLR) guidelines, which were originally proposed by Sen. Franken.

Beginning in 2011, the MLR provision requires that 80 to 85 percent of health insurance premiums be spent on things like patient care and quality improvement. If insurers don't meet those standards, they will have to issue rebate checks to customers. The first checks would be mailed in 2012.

"Implementation of the medical loss ratio provision is a huge step toward ensuring consumers' premium dollars go to actual health care, not insurance company coffers," Franken said in a statement. "Many health insurers spend as little as 65 percent of your premiums on care, and the rest goes to enormous CEO salaries, advertising, or wasteful administrative costs. These regulations will hold health insurers accountable and make sure consumers get more value for their money."

The full article can be found here.