NEWS STATEMENT: TakeAction Minnesota calls on Sen. Benson to support provisions that prevent a legal health care heist with HMO conversions
Contact: Kenza Hadj-Moussa, 612-386-9556
NEWS STATEMENT
TakeAction Minnesota calls on Sen. Benson to support provisions that prevent a legal health care heist with HMO conversions
Bipartisan action is required this session to stop for-profit health plans from legally being able to privatize billions of dollars that belong to the public–that’s our money
ST. PAUL–In 2017, the Legislature repealed Minnesota’s longstanding ban on for-profit health plans, without any regulations or guidelines on HMO conversions to for-profit companies. Minnesota’s nonprofit health plans have nearly $7 billion in assets and reserves that belong in the public interest. Without action from the Legislature this session, for-profit companies will be legally allowed to privatize billions of dollars in public health care money through nonprofit HMO conversions, starting July 1, 2019.
TakeAction Minnesota released the following statement, calling on Health and Human Services Chair Senator Michelle Benson to work with the House to pass bipartisan regulations around HMO conversions, and to prevent companies like Medica from transferring our health care dollars out of state and to for-profit companies:
“Our legislators are responsible for stopping a legal health care heist, with nearly $7 billion on the line. We’re calling on Senator Michelle Benson, Senate chair of the HHS conference committee, to work with the House on passing strong public protections. Without action, it will be legal for for-profit health insurance companies to walk away with billions of dollars that belong in the public interest, starting July 1. We’ve seen this happen in 15 other states. There’s no excuse for inaction. And there’s no reason why Minnesotans should accept nonprofit companies like Medica transferring our health care dollars out of state or to for-profit companies. Time is running out. Senator Benson is critical to ensuring a bipartisan deal gets done for Minnesotans.”
Rep. Tina Liebling at a press conference on HMO conversions in April 2019
Last week, Attorney General Keith Ellison raised this pressing issue in a letter to legislative leaders.
It’s imp to keep #mnleg focus on HMO conversion. Nonprofit HMOs are sitting on $7B in public assets bc of tax breaks & public subsidy. If HMOs convert to for-profit, our $ needs to stay in MN and be used only for our health, not for exec salaries or corp profit #ThatsOurMoney pic.twitter.com/0A4h8UEHEc
— Attorney General Keith Ellison (@AGEllison) May 16, 2019
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