In 1992 Minnesota enacted “Health-Right” legislation which is being closely watched in the health care reform discussions. The law (1) establishes a commission whose goal is at least a 10% decrease in the annual rate of increase in health care costs; (2) establishes a voluntary, state-subsidized insurance called Minnesota Care which is available to low-income persons on a sliding scale proportional to income, with a maximum premium, and with state subsidy; (3) places reform regulations on insurance companies to prevent such practices as exclusion of pre-existing conditions and to provide portability of benefits and work toward standardization of rates across contracts; and (4) gives special attention to the unique problems of rural communities. The stipulation that physicians practicing within state-approved guidelines are given defense thereby in malpractice litigation is attracting considerable attention. Minnesotans point out that the law outlines a state’s responsibility to provide a health care system rather than approaching the problem from the citizen’s right to health care.