Despite Concern Over HHS Cuts, TakeAction Thanks Dayton, Bakk, Lourey for Protecting MNcare
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 18, 2015
Contact: Greta Bergstrom, 651.336.6722, greta@takeactionminnesota.org
Despite Deep Concern Over Cost-Sharing Increases, TakeAction Minnesota Thanks Governor Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Bakk, Senator Lourey for Tenacious Leadership in Successful Protection of Legacy MinnesotaCare Program
Organization calls on Governor to “fix the $65 million in cuts” using surplus
St. Paul, MN – TakeAction Minnesota released the following statement thanking Dayton, Bakk and Lourey for their leadership in ensuring MinnesotaCare will remain intact and not be repealed despite an intensive effort to abolish the program by House Republicans:
“Thanks to the leadership and tenacity of Governor Dayton, Senate Majority Leader Bakk and Senator Tony Lourey, MinnesotaCare will remain intact and continue delivering high quality, affordable health care to those who would otherwise be thrown to the private market to pay more for less, or just go uninsured. These hard-working Minnesotans, so many of whom told their stories at the Capitol and in the media, should be proud that their efforts helped to protect this critical program from extinction.
“Unfortunately, MinnesotaCare enrollees will take a big financial hit given cost-sharing increases, one they cannot afford. These cuts will triple the out-of-pocket costs MinnesotaCare enrollees will have to pay, despite a $1.9 billion surplus as well as a surplus in the Health Care Access Fund. Forcing low-income Minnesotans to give up an entire week’s pay, an additional $433 a year in new costs, is bad policy. We ask Governor Dayton to use the state’s surplus to fix the $65 million in cuts to ensure MinnesotaCare families can continue to afford the care they need.
“A vocal minority, led by the House GOP intent on eliminating MinnesotaCare, was defeated by the vast majority of Minnesotans who want, and depend on, the program’s continuation. Enrollees, health care consumers, providers, faith, labor and advocacy organizations have supported the protection of MinnesotaCare because they understand just how effective it has been for those enrolled as well as for our state’s legacy as a national leader in health care reform.
“TakeAction Minnesota will remain vigilant to any and all future efforts to jeopardize or dismantle this centerpiece of our state’s health care infrastructure.”
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TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide people’s network of individual and organizational members working together to motivate people to act publicly in order to advance economic and racial equity in our state. The organization has offices in St. Paul, Duluth and Grand Rapids.
