Klobuchar, Ellison Fight to Keep 18,000 Minnesotans from Losing Health Insurance

Press Release

Klobuchar, Ellison Fight to Keep 18,000 Minnesotans from Losing Health Insurance

Bill will save state from losing over $135 million in federal funds

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Keith Ellison introduced legislation that will protect 18,000 Minnesotans from being terminated from Minnesota's Medicaid program. The legislation is in direct response to a recent federal administrative ruling that would radically alter Minnesota's innovative Medicaid program MinnesotaCare.

The State of Minnesota had worked with the federal government for more than a decade to renew two of its current federal health care waivers for Medicaid programs. In a callous and over-reaching decision this past August, the Bush Administration tried to force Minnesota to curtail its Medicaid program by September 10th or risk losing $135 million in federal dollars. Klobuchar and Ellison's initiative requires the federal government to extend Minnesota's health care waivers through April 2009.

"This is a successful program that deserves to reach more people," said Klobuchar. "This is about doing what is right so that families can get affordable health insurance. This is something that is good for all of us - and that's because insuring Minnesotans is a smart investment that will over the long run, reduce costs."

"The Bush Administration has once again shown their priorities by choosing to cut health care for 18,000 of our most vulnerable citizens in Minnesota. I am hopeful that my legislation will be quickly adopted by Congress, sparing Minnesotans undue pain until a long-term solution is available," Ellison said.

"With 46 million Americans still uninsured, with 6 percent unemployment (the highest it's been in five years); and with mortgage foreclosures at an all-time high, we should not be taking away health care from Minnesotans who need it now more than ever," Ellison concluded.

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