SAINT PAUL, Minn. - On August 18th, Speaker Melissa Hortman appointed Rep. Tina Liebling (DFL - Rochester) to represent the Minnesota House of Representatives on the Governor’s Task Force on Academic Health at the University of Minnesota. Rep. Liebling – who chairs the House’s Health Finance and Policy Committee – released the following statement:
“I’m grateful to Governor Walz for establishing this important task force and to Speaker Hortman for appointing me to serve on it,” said Rep. Liebling. “Health care in our nation is under extreme stress due to privatization, consolidations, and other factors. A strong public system of training for health professionals and a strong University of Minnesota health care system that is focused on service to Minnesotans is essential to the future of our state.”
The task force was established earlier this month to recommend a path forward for the University of Minnesota health care system. It has five main tasks set forth by Governor Walz:
- Review other states’ examples for financial and clinical partnerships between non-academic health systems;
- Consider financial support and partnership models that benefit healthcare systems, professionals and recipients;
- Determine potential options for oversight for programs funded by the Health Sciences Programs;
- Find funding models for academic and state health systems; and
- Develop criteria relating to “equity, workforce diversity, geographic accessibility, and primary care” in rural areas.
###