The group held an impromptu press conference outside the Governor’s office urging Pawlenty to put all budget options on the table – including revenue-raising measures – to prevent cuts that are expected to put the health of Minnesotans at risk for years to come. But their effort did not stop Pawlenty from issuing a series of line-item vetoes later in the day, including slashing $381 million in funding for health care for uninsured Minnesotans (see related story).
Julie Schnell, President of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, told the crowd that “the Governor’s ‘no-compromise’ budget means we cannot invest in a healthy Minnesota at a time when we need to most. We are here today to call on Governor Pawlenty to make the health of all Minnesotans a priority.”
The Minnesota Hospital Association also weighed in on the severity of the cuts.
“At the same time Minnesotans are experiencing unprecedented job and health care coverage losses, the Governor wants hospitals to ante up even more,” said Margaret Perryman, CEO of Gillette Hospital in St. Paul. “The reality is, significant cuts to hospitals will result in job losses because hospitals in many communities are the largest employer. The inevitable state budget cuts will significantly affect the ability of hospitals to care for the elderly, disabled and children, and hospital layoffs will add to Minnesota’s economic downturn.”
“Hospitals can’t survive if patients can’t pay,” noted AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Eliot Seide, in a statement issued by the union, which union represents workers at HCMC, Fairview University and Regions. “If Governor Pawlenty kicks 113,000 Minnesotans off health insurance, they’ll end up in emergency rooms for expensive care with no way to pay.”
“Governor Pawlenty’s cuts would force many nursing homes to close,” Seide added. “Moving elderly residents is emotionally traumatic and relocation usually means being farther away from family.”
A sign positioned behind the speakers highlighted the specific impact of the cuts if the Governor’s budget proposal were to go forward:
• More than 86,000 adults lose health coverage
• At least 26,000 children lose access to health coverage
• Hospital layoffs across Minnesota
• Hospital closings across the state
• Tens of millions of dollars in increased “uncompensated care”
• More uninsured children and adults forgoing preventative care
• The elimination or cutting of critical services, including, dental, mental health and disabled services
• Increased health care costs for all Minnesotans
The Health and Human Services omnibus bill was delivered to Pawlenty Monday, after significant wrangling by House and Senate conference committee members. On Thursday, the governor signed the bill but vetoed several items within it.
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The group held an impromptu press conference outside the Governor’s office urging Pawlenty to put all budget options on the table – including revenue-raising measures – to prevent cuts that are expected to put the health of Minnesotans at risk for years to come. But their effort did not stop Pawlenty from issuing a series of line-item vetoes later in the day, including slashing $381 million in funding for health care for uninsured Minnesotans (see related story).
Julie Schnell, President of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, told the crowd that “the Governor’s ‘no-compromise’ budget means we cannot invest in a healthy Minnesota at a time when we need to most. We are here today to call on Governor Pawlenty to make the health of all Minnesotans a priority.”
The Minnesota Hospital Association also weighed in on the severity of the cuts.
“At the same time Minnesotans are experiencing unprecedented job and health care coverage losses, the Governor wants hospitals to ante up even more,” said Margaret Perryman, CEO of Gillette Hospital in St. Paul. “The reality is, significant cuts to hospitals will result in job losses because hospitals in many communities are the largest employer. The inevitable state budget cuts will significantly affect the ability of hospitals to care for the elderly, disabled and children, and hospital layoffs will add to Minnesota’s economic downturn.”
“Hospitals can’t survive if patients can’t pay,” noted AFSCME Council 5 Executive Director Eliot Seide, in a statement issued by the union, which union represents workers at HCMC, Fairview University and Regions. “If Governor Pawlenty kicks 113,000 Minnesotans off health insurance, they’ll end up in emergency rooms for expensive care with no way to pay.”
“Governor Pawlenty’s cuts would force many nursing homes to close,” Seide added. “Moving elderly residents is emotionally traumatic and relocation usually means being farther away from family.”
A sign positioned behind the speakers highlighted the specific impact of the cuts if the Governor’s budget proposal were to go forward:
• More than 86,000 adults lose health coverage
• At least 26,000 children lose access to health coverage
• Hospital layoffs across Minnesota
• Hospital closings across the state
• Tens of millions of dollars in increased “uncompensated care”
• More uninsured children and adults forgoing preventative care
• The elimination or cutting of critical services, including, dental, mental health and disabled services
• Increased health care costs for all Minnesotans
The Health and Human Services omnibus bill was delivered to Pawlenty Monday, after significant wrangling by House and Senate conference committee members. On Thursday, the governor signed the bill but vetoed several items within it.