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State Representative Kim Norton
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-9249
For more information contact: Matt Swenson 651-297-8406
Press/News Releases
HEALTH CARE REFORM WILL LOWER COSTS, IMPROVE QUALITY
Last week, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a nation-leading health care reform package that would control rising health care costs for Minnesotans, making our state a healthier and more affordable place to live. The bill works within the current market-based system but focuses on improving the quality of health care in Minnesota, expanding current efforts at preventative care, and lowering health care costs associated with chronic health care conditions.
Additionally, the bill would:
§ Promote affordable, high quality health care for all Minnesotans;
§ Lower administrative costs (including a provision I authored to cut administrative waste);
§ Promote public health; and
§ Provide coverage to an additional 133 thousand Minnesotans over the next three years.
With skyrocketing premiums and a broken health care system, this important reform effort comes at a crucial time. One in five Minnesotans spends more than 10 percent of their income on health care related costs. Minnesotans can't afford to continue on the same, broken course. We need to seriously reform our current health care system, and that's what this bill gets at.
As a legislator that works and votes for the people of my district not the party line I signed onto a variety of health care bills with a desire to put all options on the table. After months of hearings I rejected the idea of a single-payer system that would have cost the state $13-15 billion. Instead, I voted for the more moderate plan we passed in the House last week that addresses costs, access, and prevention within the current market system.
Based on his recent editorial, Fran Bradley would have you believe this bill does not address the problems facing our current health care system. Unfortunately, Bradley didn't participate in the seventy-five health care reform hearings that took place over the course of ten months, held by the Legislative Health Care Access Commission, the Health Care Transformation Task Force, and the House Health and Human Services Committee.
I did participate in many of these important discussions. And during the course of our work, we heard from health practitioners, business leaders, the insurance industry, non-profits, and health policy experts from across the political spectrum. They all came together and worked alongside lawmakers in crafting this forward-thinking plan. Everyone agreed our legislation is the best way to move forward on reforming our health care system. In fact, over 20 health care groups support this important bill, including:
§ Mayo Clinic
§ University of Minnesota
§ American Lung, Cancer, Diabetes, Heart, and Stroke Associations
§ Minnesota Medical, Nurses, and Physical Assistants Associations
§ MN-CCD (A coalition of over 100 disability groups)
§ AARP
§ AFSCME
Health experts support this bill because it is in the best interest of all Minnesotans. By joining forces to tackle this challenging issue together, we were able to establish a comprehensive approach that will finally provide results for everyone.
Contrary to Bradley's editorial, while the bill re-prioritizes spending within the health care system, it would not increase taxes. In fact, this plan would significantly decrease state spending on health care over the long-term. If nothing is done to reform our current system, state spending on health care will top $10 billion per year. By reforming the state payment system under this plan, Minnesota would reduce state health care spending over $2 billion by 2011.
His editorial would also have you believe that this bill would expand state health care coverage to illegal aliens. There is absolutely no truth to this outlandish claim. Illegal aliens cannot receive state aid for health care. The only health care coverage they can receive is from the federal government. This is not a state issue, and this bill in no way extends health care benefits to illegal aliens.
When the Health Care Transformation Task Force revealed its plan to improve health care in Minnesota last month, Fran Bradley's editorial called the proposal a "ray of hope." Many of the "promising proposals" he praised are the very cornerstones of a health care reform bill he now opposes.
At a time when reform is crucial, we need to take a problem solving approach to fixing our health care system. The same old strategies and empty rhetoric didn't cut it ten years ago, and it's not going to get us anywhere today. Instead, we need to come to the table with an open mind, roll up our sleeves, and finally get at the heart of the problem because Minnesotans deserve better.
For the health of our state, I hope this important reform bill becomes law this year. While it won't solve all our problems, it is a step in the right direction. I have made it my priority to address this issue responsibly in order to finally provide Minnesotans with affordable, quality health care. I remain committed to that important priority today.
I encourage you to contact me with your questions or concerns on this important issue. You can reach me by phone at (651) 296-9249 or by email at rep.kim.norton@house.mn. I look forward to hearing from you.
News Items
- Rep. Norton Selected as Vice Chair of House Health and Human Services Finance Committee - (Posted: 2012-12-14 00:00:00)
- Its Time for Legislature to Get Back to Basics, Balance the Budget Honestly - (Posted: 2012-12-11 00:00:00)
- Second Saturday Coffee Meeting Date Changed to December 9 - (Posted: 2012-12-03 00:00:00)
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