St. Paul, Minn. – Today, the Minnesota House voted 74-57 – largely along party lines – to repass HF 5, a bill creating a state “reinsurance” program, which followed a House/Senate conference committee reconciling differences in each body’s version of the bill.
Rep. Jennifer Schultz (DFL – Duluth), a health care economist with expertise in health insurance markets, and who has been evaluating health care reform for over 20 years, again voted against the bill. She released the following statement:
“This bill is a massive giveaway to insurance companies with no guarantee it will stabilize the insurance market, provide affordable premiums or increase access to providers. It’s also troubling that a majority of the board overseeing this program will consist of insurance executives. When insurance companies do much of the work crafting particular legislation, the end result will essentially be a bill that benefits insurance companies. I remain committed to solutions to our health care system that will stabilize the market, lower premiums, increase access to providers, and reduce health care costs. The Republican majority should be focused on this, and not subsidies for insurance companies.”