Saint Paul, Minnesota – Minnesota legislative leaders are urging the federal government to grant the state flexibility to preserve and improve MinnesotaCare so the state can continue its tradition of nation-leading health care. A bipartisan group of legislators including Speaker Paul Thissen, Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, and Senate President Sandy Pappas sent a letter today to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebellius asking for demonstration authority for the improvement and long-term continuation of MinnesotaCare as a state-federal partnership to ensure the state can preserve MinnesotaCare while implementing federal health reform in Minnesota.
In the letter to Secretary Sebellius, legislators said, “Minnesota is proud to be leading the nation in health care quality and coverage. We hope to continue this progress and our commitment to ensuring access to affordable, high quality, health care coverage for all Minnesotans.”
Specifically, the letter urges Secretary Sebellius to authorize the Basic Health Plan federal funding mechanism to give Minnesota the “flexibility and support we need to make health reform work across the state.”
Signers of the letter included a bipartisan group of health care leaders in both the House and Senate:
State Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL – Duluth), Chair, Health and Human Services Finance
State Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL – Rochester), Chair, Health and Human Services Policy
State Rep. Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), Minority Lead, Health and Human Services Finance
State Rep. Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley), Minority Lead, Health and Human Services Policy
Senator Tony Lourey (DFL – Kerrick) Chair, Senate Health and Human Services Finance
Senator Kathy Sheran (DFL – Mankato) Chair, Health, Human Services and Housing
Senator Julie Rosen (R - Fairmont) Minority Lead, Senate Health and Human Services Finance
Senator Michele Benson (R – Ham Lake ) Minority Lead, Health, Human Services and Housing
Minnesota lawmakers look forward to working with Governor Dayton’s administration, Minnesota’s congressional delegation, and the Obama Administration to continue the commitment of MinnesotaCare for years to come.