Minnesota Lawmakers Expected To Approve Health Care Legislation
Minnesota lawmakers this week are expected to approve legislation that is expected to reduce health care spending in the state by 20% by 2015 and extend coverage to an additional 47,000 residents, but the bill could face a veto by Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R), the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
The plan would cost about $49 million in 2009. Long-term savings could be as high as $12 billion from reducing obesity, smoking rates and the number of uninsured. Savings also would come from publicizing price and quality data on hospitals and physicians, as well as other efforts. About $20 million of the 2009 funding would come from insurers and health care providers to fund programs that aim to reduce obesity and smoking rates. The remaining $29 million would come from the state's Health Care Access Fund.
Pawlenty spokesperson Brian McClung said that the governor does not support the bill because it would not offset the cost of extending health insurance to more residents. McClung also said that lawmakers "know that a veto is among the options" if they proceed with the legislation. Pawlenty is scheduled to meet with state House Speaker Anderson Kelliher (DFL) and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R) to discuss the bill and other budget issues (Lopez/Wolfe, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/25).
