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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
NATION-LEADING HEALTH CARE REFORM EFFORT BECOMES LAW
ST. PAUL This afternoon, with key health leaders at his side, Governor Tim Pawlenty signed a nation-leading health care reform bill (HF 3780) into law. On-hand today at the bill signing was local lawmaker Rep. Kim Norton (DFL Rochester). Over the course of the last eleven months Rep. Norton worked closely with fellow legislators, health policy experts, and private practitioners to create and enact important reform in Minnesota's broken health care system.
"Today we've made our state a leading model for progress, innovation, and effective reform," said Rep. Norton. "This bipartisan effort is an important first step in making quality health care available and affordable for all Minnesotans."
The health care reform bill signed into law today enacts the following reforms:
· Affordable health care for Minnesotans (under 300% FPG) A new affordability scale will limit the cost of health care to 8 percent of one's income. Under these new guidelines, an eligible family of four would pay no more than $5,100 on health care in a year.
· Statewide public health improvement plan A two-year public health grant program will provide local communities the resources to reduce obesity and smoking rates to curb the frequency of costly chronic diseases. Currently 80 percent of the state's health care costs are attributed to the 20 percent of Minnesotans suffering from chronic diseases (asthma, diabetes, heart disease, etc.) that can often be prevented through healthy living.
· Health care homes To help reduce unnecessary costs stemming from uncoordinated care between specialized practitioners, the bill provides $6 million over three years for coordinated care payments to providers that qualify as health care homes.
· Payment restructuring The bill reforms the way Minnesotans pay for health care in public programs and transitions to new payment systems in the private market. A provision authored by Rep. Norton will streamline the billing process to eliminate unnecessary, costly waste.
· Small employers The bill helps small businesses save money on health care for their employees.
· 12,000 more Minnesotans insured Expands eligibility requirements for Minnesota Care. Combined with 2007 reform measures, health care coverage has been extended to over 100,000 new Minnesotans including 30,000 children over the last two years.
"By enacting these innovative measures, we are making Minnesota a healthier, more affordable place to live, and putting our state on the leading edge of sorely needed health care reform in our country," said Norton. "Without doubt, there is more work to do. But as we move forward in our common desire to enhance quality, improve access, and lower costs, we must maintain our bipartisan commitment to progress and continue the effective public/private partnerships that made this bill possible."
As a freshman legislator, Norton has emerged as a leading force on issues of public health and health care reform. The Minnesota Environmental Health Association (MEHA) recently recognized Rep. Norton for her "energetic and persistent commitment" to creating and sustaining healthy communities.
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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