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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Alice Mann (DFL)

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Legislative Update - March 18, 2019

Monday, March 18, 2019

Neighbors,
 
Last week was a whirlwind of hearings on legislation to increase access to affordable health care, lower the cost of prescription drugs, and invest in high-quality infrastructure for our community. Catch up on these issues and get a preview of the week to come below.
 
Health Care 
On March 14th the Minnesota House Health and Human Services Committee heard H.F. 1011, my bill to increase funding for pre-pregnancy services. Spacing out babies and choosing when to get pregnant significantly improves healthcare outcomes and is one of the best investments we can make in healthcare.
 
Forty percent of all pregnancies in Minnesota are unintended. Access to pre-pregnancy services improves the health and well-being of women and families, and saves our state and federal government further long term costs. Family planning clinics are on the front lines of delivering high-quality reproductive health care, especially to rural, low-income and uninsured Minnesotans.
 
On Thursday I stood with House leadership and impacted Minnesotans to talk about the importance of access to care for women.

On Thursday I also presented my bill to increase reimbursement for doula services. Doulas provide guidance and support before, during and after labor, and have been proven to improve health outcomes for moms and babies - creating significant healthcare savings per pregnancy.

In addition to women’s health initiatives, I’m doing everything I can to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. HF 289 would require transparency in diabetes prescription drug costs. Drug manufacturers would have to report cost increases, the factors that led to increases to the legislature each year, and whether they are using middle men to negotiate higher profits. This is an important step toward holding pharmaceutical companies accountable.

I’m also working to establish a rare disease council at the University of Minnesota to help patients with rare diseases navigate healthcare, get diagnosed and get treated sooner.

The council would be named after two-year-old Chloe Barnes, who in 2010 lost her life to a rare degenerative disease. There is no cure for metachromatic leukodystrophy, which she was diagnosed with, but her friends and family have devoted their lives to a vision for a world where every rare disease has a treatment option.

VETERAN SUICIDE AWARENESS DAY
Veterans face unique mental health challenges, which causes a heartbreaking disparity in suicide rates. Veterans are 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than civilians.

Last week the Minnesota House unanimously approved legislation to increase public awareness of this problem by establishing a Veteran Suicide Awareness Day. House File 586 designates the first Saturday of October every year as Veteran Suicide Awareness Day. This bill is just a start to addressing this problem by learning, listening and working toward comprehensive mental health care assistance for our veterans.
 
Lakeville Infrastructure 
Last week I had hearings on two bills which would upgrade our infrastructure and ensure our community has access to clean water. The bills call for funding to renovate six wells and pumps, and also equipment at one of the city’s lift stations. You can read more about them here and here.
 
This Week
The House DFL is acting on two measures this week that Republicans failed to pass in 2018. Minnesotans deserve action on the opioid crisis and to be safe on our roads.
 
We need to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for the tragedies and destruction they’ve caused in creating the opioid crisis. Today we expect to pass legislation that has robust strategies for opioid addiction prevention, education, intervention, training, treatment and recovery.
 
We also plan to act on distracted driving. Distracted driving fatalities are on the rise and too many Minnesotans have lost loved ones due to smartphones and texting. Approving the hands free cell phone bill will help make sure more Minnesotans make it home.
 
As always, please reach out if you have comments or questions or stop by my office if you’re ever in St. Paul. Have a great week!
 
Sincerely,
 
Alice Mann