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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
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MINNESOTA POISED TO CAPTURE 90% MEDICAID MATCH
St. Paul, MN - State Representatives Paul Thissen and Tom Huntley are announcing today their plan to access a 90% federal Medicaid match for patients with chronic conditions who receive care through health care homes. The significantly enhanced match (usually 50% in Minnesota) is available through the recently passed federal health care reform legislation.
"This is a terrific opportunity for Minnesota," said Thissen. "Health care homes are the right policy for serving patients with chronic conditions and Minnesota is being rewarded for its cutting edge work in delivering high quality, efficient care."
The groundwork for the match was laid by Huntley, Thissen and Rep. Erin Murphy in the 2008 legislative session and has the potential to bring hundreds of millions of federal health care money into Minnesota, relieving the burden on the state budget.
In 2008, Thissen and Huntley authored legislation that created health care or medical homes in Minnesota. According to a report released by the Minnesota Department of Health in December, 2009, approximately 73% of clinics and clinicians are currently working towards the health care home transformation. Forty Minnesota clinics, in fact, are already in the process of becoming certified as health care homes.
A new Thissen proposal calls on the Commissioner to submit a state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and enroll eligible Medical Assistance individuals with chronic conditions in health care homes by January 1, 2011, in order to receive the 90% federal match.
"I hope that Governor Pawlenty and the administration take an honest look at the many ways in which the federal health care reform will reward Minnesota for the good work it has done and truly understand the implications of the law before rejecting it," said Thissen.
Under the federal health care legislation, a Medicaid recipient would be eligible for health home services if they suffer from either two chronic conditions, one chronic condition and at risk of having a second, or one serious and persistent mental health condition. Chronic conditions include a substance abuse disorder, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, a mental health condition, or obesity.
“I would suspect that most of the GAMC population would fall into this category, and as a result, would qualify for the 90% Medicaid match," said Huntley. “This expanded coverage and reimbursement would be good for the patient, good for our hospitals, and good for our state budget.”
Huntley said he would also expect a significant percentage of the senior population could qualify, as well as a significant percentage of families with children.
Legislation proposed by Huntley (HF3713), that would garner federal dollars to cover the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) population, received a hearing Wednesday night in the Health Care Finance Committee. If enacted, this proposal would expand Medical Assistance to cover the GAMC population, as well as an estimated 26,000 MinnesotaCare recipients. This MA expansion brings a 50% federal match to a program that is currently entirely state funded.
One of the concerns with this plan, according to Huntley, is the higher costs in the next biennium. If the health care home match is enacted, the additional 40% would be paid to Minnesota for two years, beginning January 1, 2011, and would significantly reduce these out-year costs.
“These two bills combined would move us from 100% state funding for GAMC recipients, to a plan that actually works for Minnesotans. We will be able to enact real reform instead of budget-driven band-aids. It means real coverage, better payments to providers and hospitals, and the federal government would pick up a significant part of the cost,” said Thissen.
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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