SAINT PAUL, MN – State Representative Jennifer Schultz (DFL- Duluth) has been appointed by legislative leaders to the Governor’s Task Force on Health Care Financing. During the 2015 legislative session, Governor Dayton proposed establishing the Task Force to bring together health care experts to analyze and recommend options for the future of health care programs in Minnesota, including MNsure and MinnesotaCare. The Legislature included the Governor's proposal in the 2015 Health and Human Services omnibus budget bill that was signed into law on May 20, 2015.
“The issue of affordable quality healthcare is something I’m very passionate about, and I’m looking forward to the work of this task force and our ability to bring a focus to affordability and quality through our work,” said Rep. Schultz. “There are many residents of Duluth and across Northern Minnesota that depend on the increased access to health insurance that MNsure and MinnesotaCare have provided, and we need to make sure the future of these programs is sustainable and accountable to taxpayers.”
Legislators, healthcare professionals, and insurance industry leaders will be tasked with clarifying the future of MNsure, the state’s health insurance exchange, and MinnesotaCare, a subsidized health insurance program for low income Minnesotan’s.
Republicans sought to eliminate MNsure and coverage for 100,000 individuals on MinnesotaCare last legislative session. DFLers have talked about seeking federal innovation waivers to address coverage “cliffs,” where people with small income gains move from comprehensive coverage in MinnesotaCare to private plans with large deductibles. As a result, people can find themselves with unaffordable medical bills even though they have health insurance coverage.
The 33-person task force is scheduled to begin meeting today, with the next meeting on August 26, and report its final recommendations to Dayton and lawmakers by Jan. 15. The Legislature appropriated $500,000 for actuarial reports and research that would assist the task force in developing recommendations.
“Eliminating MinnesotaCare limits choice. Many will be forced to choose no coverage because they cannot afford coverage without MinnesotaCare," said Rep. Schultz during a floor debate last April. "Or, they will be forced to purchase less coverage and become under-insured. I would rather have fewer choices of plans with full coverage, as opposed to more choices of plans with less coverage.”
Rep. Schultz encourages community members to contact her on any legislative issue. She can be reached by email at rep.jennifer.schultz@house.mn or phone at 651-296-2228.