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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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ALL MINNESOTANS BENEFIT FROM HOUSE HEALTH CARE BILL
ST. PAUL, MN – Members of the House Health & Human Services Finance Committee unveiled their health care bill today, proposing significant reform and cost reductions in the health care system, as well as providing health care coverage for every child in Minnesota by 2011.
"With this bill, Minnesota is again positioned to take its place among the leaders in health care innovation," said State Rep. Tom Huntley, the chair of the House Health. "Since 2002, over 90,000 Minnesotans have lost their health care coverage. However, we can't address the lack of coverage without reforming the system and addressing the rising costs for the 93 percent of Minnesotans who already have coverage."
State Rep. Patti Fritz, who is Vice-Chair of the House Health & Human Services Policy Committee, said this bill represents a big step forward in not only making health insurance available to every child in the state, but also towards reducing costs for those Minnesotans who have insurance.
"It's not just people without insurance who are struggling, it's everyone else who is paying more and more each year," said Fritz. "Health care cost is quickly becoming one of the main budget items for the average Minnesota family."
Fritz said that for the 93 percent of Minnesotans with health insurance, the costs have increased by 12.54 percent each year, between the years of 2000 and 2005. During that same time period, per capita income rose by 3.1 percent.
"Do the math – unless something changes, we can't keep up with our rising health care costs," said Fritz.
The centerpiece of the bill is a provision that provides better access and uniformity to health cost information and lower costs through a medical home model, physician-directed care coordination, and payment system reforms.
The other major component of the bill is the Cover All Kids provision, which was one of the House DFL's priority bills introduced during the first week of the session. As a co-author of the bill, Fritz said she is thrilled it is moving another step forward.
"We can all agree that Minnesota children should have access to quality medical care," said Fritz. "We want that for our own children and grandchildren, and with this bill, parents throughout the state can have the same peace of mind."
The Cover-All-Kids Initiative will provide coverage for the 70,000 Minnesota children currently without health care coverage. It also extends coverage to dependent young adults up to age 25. The cost is $99 million in 2008-2009 and $373 million in 2010-2011 when the initiative is fully phased in.
Other highlights of the bill include:
· $393 million for rate increases for long term care providers
· $116 million in Mental Health Initiatives
· $101 million to reduce Medicaid asset limits for elderly and disabled Minnesotans
· $28 million to reduce copays for Medicaid coverage of Medicare Part D
· $3 million to provide access to MinnesotaCare for farmers
"This legislation supports not just our families, but the mentally ill, our seniors, farmers and long term care providers," said Fritz. "I believe everyone understands our health care system is in a state of crisis –we need this bill to begin to move us toward a manageable, affordable and accessible health care system for every Minnesotan."
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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