Public News Service - MN Lawmakers Try to Stop State Health Insurance Cuts

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Public News Service - MN Lawmakers Try to Stop State Health Insurance Cuts

Legislation has been introduced in Congress to block a federal agency's ruling that would eliminate 18,000 parents from Minnesota's health insurance program. The House sponsor, Minnesota Representative Keith Ellison, says the ruling at issue would revoke a waiver that allows the use of federal money to cover the parents of some children who are enrolled in MinnesotaCare.

He says the Minnesota approach of including all family members has proven successful.

"This program we have is why Minnesota has one of the lowest uninsured rates in the nation. I think it's a national model for extending benefits to children and families with slightly higher income levels."

Ellison says eliminating people from health coverage isn't an effective way to cut costs.

"These folks are going to seek medical attention when they need it. That's going to be at the emergency rooms, which is considerably higher in expense. The outcomes, of course, will be inferior to those for people who are getting care on a timely and routine basis."

A companion bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Minneosta Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Steve Francisco with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits says that if the waiver isn't extended, a lot of Minnesotans will lose their health care coverage.

"There's never a good time to lose your health insurance, but it's an especially bad time to lose it when the economy is slowing, when the unemployment rate is going up, when low-income families are being forced, more than ever, to stretch their means to make ends meet."

Ellison says the proposed federal action would cost Minnesota $135 million over three years.

The federal government has granted a two-week extension of the waiver cutoff to allow for negotiations with state health officials. Ellison's bill would extend the waiver through April.

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