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State Representative Patti Fritz
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-8237
For more information contact: Sandy Connolly 651-296-8877
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Fritz joins fellow Democrats in proposal for health care legislation
Rep. Patti Fritz (Faribault) joined fellow Democrats on Monday as they unveiled their plan for making good health care coverage available for more Minnesotans. The bill was released at a press conference held at the Louisiana Cafe on Selby Avenue in St. Paul, a location chosen to represent the problem small businesses have in providing health care coverage for their employees.
The DFL plan, introduced by Rep. Tom Huntley (Duluth) proposes opening up participation in state health care programs to small businesses and the self-employed. This move would reduce employer costs for providing coverage by 5 percent, and could reduce the cost of health care coverage for some families by almost one-third.
Huntley was joined by Fritz, House DFL leader Matt Entenza (St. Paul), Rep. Ruth Johnson (St. Peter) and several others.
The bill will offer enrollment in the state's health plan to those who are self-employed and businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Because the program already enrolls very large numbers of people, the state has been able to negotiate reasonable rates and good coverage for its members.
"I've been a licensed practicing nurse for 40 years," said Fritz. "I am very aware of the costs of health care and how difficult is it for individuals and families to pay those expenses without insurance."
“Every Minnesotan deserves at least the same quality of health care we, their legislators have," said Entenza. “It's a bill everybody ought to be able to support because the program it creates will provide that coverage without costing the state a dime."
Minnesota's employee health plan, covering legislators, state employees and their families, currently enrolls about 120,000 individuals.
"I'm very excited to go home and talk to the small businesses in my district about this plan," said Fritz. " I believe this is an excellent option for people who lack health care coverage."
News Items
- STATE REP. PATTI FRITZ PARTICIPATES IN START OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION - (Posted: Jan 9 2013 3:32PM)
- Rep. Fritz: Homeowners, Farmers Need Property Tax Relief - (Posted: 2012-05-01 00:00:00)
- Rep. Fritz: Let’s Vote on a Bonding Bill that Benefits All - (Posted: 2012-04-19 00:00:00)
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