Minnesota Democratic Lawmakers Announce Bills Intended To Overhaul State Health Care System
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers released a number of legislative proposals on Monday that are intended to overhaul the state's health care system, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. According to state Rep. Tom Huntley (DFL), chair of a health care finance committee, and state Sen. Linda Berglin (DFL), the state would spend $50 billion a year on health care by 2015 without continued reforms (Kaszuba, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/16).
The proposals include eliminating payment for hospital errors or duplicative laboratory work; discouraging caesarean sections for expectant mothers enrolled in state-sponsored health insurance programs; requiring patients to be more involved in their health care; and offering tiered health benefits based on an assessment of an individual's health (Hoppin, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 3/17). Other proposals would establish 24-hour emergency dental clinics and birthing centers, and have government and private providers buy medical supplies in bulk.
DFL leaders said the long-term savings of enacting such proposals could amount to hundreds of millions of dollars. However, they said some of the proposals initially would cost money, which is "a likely source of conflict in a session focused on erasing" the state's budget deficit, according to the Star Tribune. Berglin said that more definitive savings estimates from the proposals are still being finalized. She said, "I'm looking for savings over a four-year period" (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/16).
