Health care bills advance at Legislature

The House Health Policy Committee approved the measure Wednesday, providing momentum behind the bill, which would provide affordable quality, health coverage to all Minnesotans, starting with children. Minnesota, once a national health care leader, now has more than 375,000 uninsured residents, including almost 80,000 children, the group said.

The vote came one day after Governor Tim Pawlenty proposed deep health care cuts that would force tens of thousands more people off of state health coverage. Earlier in the week, another health care bill – to create a state single payer system – passed its first committee.

Linda Slattengren, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association and a Registered Nurse for the past 30 years, told the committee that "solving the economic crisis must include solving the health care crisis – the two are inescapably connected."

Jeanne Sedgwick of St. Paul, the "2008 Minnesota School Nurse of the Year," shared stories of actual children, living without needed insulin or dental care or AD/HD medication, whom she sees each day. She said the legislation is desperately needed because "school nurses across Minnesota believe children that are uninsured or underinsured are the No. 1 challenge they face daily."

David Sumnicht, the owner of Advantage Payroll Services in Edina, testified that "it has always been his commitment to completely cover his employees\’ cost of health and dental insurance, for staff working over 30 hours." Over the years, this commitment has given his employees the opportunity to have affordable coverage for their children who otherwise would not have coverage. But after four years of 25-33 percent annual plan cost increases, this commitment is at risk. He supports the Minnesota Health Security Act because it would provide an affordable alternative to current private-market options.

The legislation, introduced by Rep. Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, and Senator Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick, would provide health coverage to all children by the middle of 2010 without co-payments or premiums. The second phase would ensure access to coverage for adults by 2012 and hold costs to no more than 5 percent of family income. It would generate savings for the state and families by streamlining current health care programs, reducing "uncompensated care," and commissioning and independent study of how to achieve better value from the health care system.

The Make Health Happen campaign coalition partners include TakeAction Minnesota, AFSCME Council 5, Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota, Education Minnesota, ISAIAH, Minnesota Nurses Association, SEIU Minnesota State Council, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, and the Land Stewardship Project.

Earlier in the week, the Minnesota Health Plan, sponsored by Senator John Marty, DFL-Roseville and Rep.David Bly, DFL-Northfield, passed through the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Committee. It would create a single payer system to provide universal health care coverage in Minnesota. It is slated for a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee Feb. 10.

For more information
For more on the Minnesota Health Security Act, visit www.MakeHealthHappen.org

 
For more on the Minnesota Health Plan, visit www.mnhealthplan.org