Originating from Saint Paul, MN, Doctor Pundit is all about the intersection between healthcare policy, science, politics, and all surrounding points and issues. Although the entire scope of healthcare delivery and policy is much too encompassing for just one blogger to cover, I'll try my best. Enjoy! From time to time, you'll also see other items of interest that probably have nothing to do with health policy in the least. Try and keep an open mind. :) Proprietor & Editor -- Michael Douglas, MD, MBAMinnesota’s Governor Seeks Assurance from Washington on Affordable Care for Working Poor
Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton wants it known that the citizens of his state will be guaranteed access to healthcare — and at the lowest cost possible to them.
The state does not want to transfer nearly 100,000 MinnesotaCare patients to the less-affordable federal health insurance exchanges that begin next year as part of President Obama’s landmark health care overhaul to expand coverage to as many as 30 million Americans.
Correctly sensing the market forces that may accompany the breadth of services available through exchanges, Dayton is assuring Minnesota and D.C. that current funds for general medical coverage will take precedence for those who are the working impoverished. It is hope that the feds will make good on promises to subsidize care delivery to this population instead of having it fall through the cracks.
With budget deadlines looming, state officials are still waiting for Washington to act on their request to count some of their federal health exchange subsidies toward the existing MinnesotaCare program instead.
The governor will no doubt touch on these issues as part of his address on the state’s budget during tonight’s State of the State address. | LINK
