Auditor: MNsure Rate Setting Beyond Review Scope

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Legislative Auditor James Nobles says a candidate's request that he review rate-setting practices for Minnesota's health insurance exchange is better suited for others.

Nobles responded Friday to a bid by Republican Jeff Johnson, a candidate for governor, to have his office examine whether Democratic Governor Mark Dayton's administration exerted undue pressure on health plans to keep rates low. Johnson said he had no hard evidence to back up his suspicion.

Nobles is presently conducting two audits and a broader evaluation of MNsure and "we still have a lot of work to do before we can report results." He says Johnson would be better off presenting the question to the insurers themselves, which Johnson said he didn't do.

On Thursday, Dayton said it's a fallacy to suggest he dictated rates.