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State Representative Sheldon Johnson
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4201
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
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EXECUTIVE ORDER DELIVERS AID TO ST. PAUL HOSPITALS, CARE FOR SICK & POOR
ST. PAUL, MN – Governor Mark Dayton signed an executive order today bringing $1.4 billion in federal funding home to Minnesota hospitals. Opting-in early to federal Medical Assistance reforms will cover 92,000 of the state’s poorest, sickest people, protect or create up to 20,000 jobs, and bring more taxpayer dollars home to Minnesota.
State Rep. Sheldon Johnson (DFL – St. Paul) applauded Governor Dayton for his leadership today at the state Capitol saying St. Paul-area hospitals now stand to gain $52 million in federal aid.
“Governor Dayton did the responsible thing today by signing the executive order to bring Minnesota tax dollars home," said Rep. Johnson.
“More than extending needed coverage to the state’s poorest, sickest people, this one executive order will generate $2.7 billion in business activity and produce $984 million in salaries and wages. It will drive down premium costs for middle-class Minnesotans and help stabilize our hospitals.”
Medical Assistance dollars included in the federal Affordable Care Act passed by Congress last year will cover all General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) patients in Minnesota, including some MinnesotaCare enrollees. The one catch: states had to voluntarily opt-in to the program to receive the funding.
“We fought last session to give Minnesota’s next governor this common sense option,” Johnson said. “It is important for our hospitals, the health of our state, and the protection of badly-needed jobs in Minnesota.”
Because of Governor Dayton's executive order, St. Paul-area hospitals stand to gain $52 million in new federal funding, including:
Regions Hospital $33.6 million
United Hospital $9.4 million
St. Joseph’s Hospital $7.8 million
Bethesda Rehabilitation Hospital $1.2 million
Enrolling in the program will also help reduce the state’s budget deficit by minimizing the shortfall in the Health Care Access Fund by several hundred million dollars. According to the recent budget forecast, that means more than $54 million on the state’s bottom line.
“We are looking at a lot of tough choices in the upcoming legislative session,” Johnson said. “But working together, and with Governor Dayton’s leadership, I am confident we can get our state back on track and get people back to work.”
News Items
- Rep. Sheldon Johnson - E-Update - May 3, 2013 - (Posted: May 6 2013 11:22AM)
- Rep. Sheldon Johnson - E-Update - April 29, 2013 - (Posted: Apr 29 2013 4:58PM)
- Rep. Sheldon Johnson - E-Update - April 25, 2013 - (Posted: Apr 29 2013 10:53AM)
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