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State Representative Thomas Huntley
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-2228
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
Column/LTE
THE HIGH COST OF THE GAMC VETO
The Governor’s veto of the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program last May set off a firestorm of public reaction. Advocates for the poorest and sickest among us were the first to cry foul – imploring both the Governor and his supporters to reverse this mean - spirited plan.
It quickly became clear, however, that every one of us was harmed by this veto. One way or another, we will all pay – primarily through higher hospital costs and property taxes as hospitals recoup lost revenue, but also through the loss of critical services to those in our communities struggling with mental health and chemical dependency issues.
Counties find themselves hit especially hard. From direct costs, such as premium payments for MinnesotaCare, to a wide expanse of costs too elusive to quantify, it is expected counties will pay an additional $20 million or more in the coming year as a result of this veto. Where services such as mental health and chemical dependency treatment, detox, incarceration, and health care for county jail inmates were once supported by state GAMC funding, the counties now find they are on their own, an all too familiar position under this Governor’s watch.
Since this veto was announced, the House and Senate health care committees have been working tirelessly with health care providers, community members and GAMC recipients to fix this problem. We know our solution is a temporary fix, but it is still far better than doing nothing. We will continue our efforts to find a long-term solution that does not shift the cost to counties, property owners and hospitals.
The good news is that if the federal health care reform bill is passed with the current Senate language, our state can opt-in to a program that will provide coverage to the GAMC population beginning April 1st. Once again, federal dollars will come to the rescue – saving all of us from the costly consequences of Governor Pawlenty’s disregard for both the health and well-being of our citizens, and the financial stability of local governments.
State Representative Tom Huntley (DFL-Duluth) is Chair of the House Health and Human Services Finance Committee and serves as Chair of the Minnesota White House Working Group, a group of five legislators asked to provide input to the national health care package and to inform Minnesotans about how health care reform will impact their lives.
News Items
- Rep. Huntley on Upholding of the Affordable Care Act by the Supreme Court - (Posted: 2012-06-28 00:00:00)
- Two Year Anniversary: Affordable Care Act Puts Minnesotans First - (Posted: 2012-03-23 00:00:00)
- Huntley, Murphy, and Lourey Join Nearly 500 Legislators Across U.S. to Defend Constitutionality of Affordable Care Act - (Posted: 2012-01-12 00:00:00)
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