Accessibility menu
State Representative John Ward
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4333
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
Press/News Releases
Ward says Early MA will create jobs, improve health care system
St. Paul, Minnesota – The recount has concluded and Governor Dayton is set to take over on January 3rd. As one of his first actions as Governor, Dayton has signaled he will enroll Minnesota in early MA, infusing about $1.2 billion in federal dollars into local hospitals and care providers to cover thousands of Minnesotans currently served under General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC). State Representative John Ward said early MA will mean a stronger local economy and improved health care in the region.
“Early MA will put real dollars directly into our hospitals that have been underfunded significantly in recent years," said Ward. “This is great news for our local hospitals and communities because it means more jobs at a time when creating more jobs is our top priority.”
The option to enroll in early MA was granted to Minnesota and other high performing health care states within the Affordable Care Law. Early MA will cover adults currently enrolled in the triaged General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program and a portion of those on MinnesotaCare with matching federal resources. As a result, St. Joseph’s Medical Center stands to gain about $3 million in reimbursements. Cuyana Regional Medical Center in Crosby would gain about $700,000.
“In my discussions with hospital administrators, local leaders and others it’s been pretty clear our care providers have been strained significantly and that ends up passing costs onto all of us through higher premiums,” said Ward. “Early MA allows us to recapture resources that would otherwise go to other states and puts them to use in our communities and we all benefit.”
Minnesota care providers will capture more than $1.2 billion in federal dollars for a state investment of less than $200 million – a better than 6 to 1 return on the state investment.
Early MA enrollment will also make next year's budget decisions easier by significantly reducing the projected shortfall in the Health Care Access Fund by nearly $500 million dollars. That fund currently provides health care to nearly 200,000 working families in Minnesota. According to the recent budget forecast, early MA will actually cost the state about $50 million less than covering the same population exclusively through MinnesotaCare.
“Our two most important priorities this session are to create jobs and balance the budget,” said Ward. “This solution will help us move in the right direction on both fronts.” Rep. Ward expressed hope of an effective relationship with both the new legislative majorities and Governor Dayton.
“I look forward to working with both Governor Dayton and legislators on both sides of the aisle so that we can meet our state’s significant challenges together.”
News Items
- Local Projects Among $18 million in Small Cities Development Grants - (Posted: Jun 12 2013 9:46AM)
- Rep. Ward Encourages Non-Profits to Apply for MNsure Consumer Assistance Grants - (Posted: Jun 3 2013 1:39PM)
- Rep. Ward Appointed to Serve on Select Committee on Controlled Substances and Synthetic Drugs - (Posted: May 30 2013 9:58AM)
- Archived News Items
- Subscribe to RSS News Feeds
- Read more about RSS.