SAINT PAUL, MN – On Friday, May 22, 2015, Governor Mark Dayton signed the Health and Human Services (HHS) Omnibus Bill into law. Authored by HHS Finance Chairman Matt Dean (R-Dellwood), this legislation protects the most vulnerable, while expanding access to quality, affordable care for all Minnesotans.
"Legislative leaders crafted a bipartisan health care reform bill that prioritizes care for Minnesota’s most vulnerable citizens," said Rep. Matt Dean. "This legislation seeks to reconnect all Minnesotans with world-leading health care by cutting through red tape, skyrocketing costs and layers of redundant, harmful bureaucracy that government has imposed."
"The legislature worked on a bipartisan basis to bend the cost curve and implement real reforms that will reduce cost and expand accessibility to high-quality care. The reforms in this bill will make a real difference in the lives of Minnesota families," said Rep. Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley), Chair of the Health and Human Services Reform Committee.
A top priority for House Republicans this session is improving aging adults’ quality of life. This legislation provides real reform to facilities that care for our elderly by implementing a statewide rate of reimbursement – which will strongly assist nursing homes in Greater Minnesota, improve the wages of care providers and provide a permanent solution to statewide nursing home needs.
"This legislation provides a major investment in nursing homes, establishes a sustainable reimbursement system, and encourages our workforce to consider a career in long-term care,” said State Representative Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne), Chairman of the Minnesota House Aging and Long Term Care Policy Committee. "There's no doubt these changes will help improve the quality of care our seniors deserve."
Additionally, this legislation values Minnesota's disabled and vulnerable, making meaningful changes to a number of Medical Assistance programs. It give counties the tools and resources to protect vulnerable children.
Next, the legislation addresses the mental health crisis in our state. The bill provides for more psychiatric beds which are critically needed. It funds suicide prevention and mental health care training as well, teaching techniques to help de-escalate mental health crises, protecting patients and health care professionals.
In addition, the HHS Omnibus bill funds the Safe Harbor Program and the Homeless Youth Act, protecting victims of violence and sexual abuse.
As House Republicans look to bring government spending more in line with family budgets, this legislation works to eliminate waste and abuse by no longer paying entitlement benefits for people who do not qualify for them. The Department of Human Services will be given new authority to detect and collect on the millions of taxpayer dollars wasted on unnecessary or illegal payments.
Finally, the legislation forms a task force to examine the future of MinnesotaCare, a program that will run out of funding in 2019 when the Provider Tax sunsets.
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Rep. Dean encourages constituents to contact his office with input regarding any state legislative issue. He can be reached via email at rep.matt.dean@house.mn. To contact Dean by phone, call (651) 296-3018. Mail can be sent to Rep. Matt Dean, 401 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55155.