Monday, March 12, 2007

State Watch

Minnesota Proposal Would Provide Universal Health Coverage by 2011

      A coalition of Minnesota physicians, legislators and consumer groups on Thursday proposed legislation that would expand health insurance to all state residents by 2011, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Under the plan, employers would be required to report uninsured employees to the state Revenue Department and collect a portion of their wages equivalent to insurance premiums as a tax withholding. Premiums for health coverage would be based on a sliding scale according to an employee's ability to pay. Those who are unable to pay the premium would be able to receive a tax credit, enroll in medical assistance programs or receive other subsidies (Doyle, Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/8). The bill also would expand the use of "medical homes," which aim to help people with chronic health problems manage their care. In addition, the legislation would give clinics financial incentives to provide preventive health and education programs. If enacted, the measure could cost between $300 million and $900 million a year, according to previous estimates (Olson, St. Paul Pioneer Press, 3/9). Healthy Minnesota, the coalition that created the legislation, includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, HealthPartners, the Mayo Clinic, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, the Education Minnesota teachers union and the Minnesota Senior Federation-Metropolitan Region (Lohn, AP/St. Paul Pioneer Press, 3/8).

Comments
Rep. Thomas Huntley (D) said that the bill "requires people to take responsibility for their own health, but at the same time it gives them the security of knowing assistance is available." However, Eileen Weber, program coordinator for the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition, said, "This bill ... puts an incredible burden on businesses to report their own employees in a Big-Brother fashion" (Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/8). Also on Thursday, executives from 3M, Wells Fargo, Target, Carlson and other Minnesota companies met with HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt and signed a pledge to provide better health care information to their employees. Leavitt said, "When people have information about quality and cost ... it drives quality up and costs down" (St. Paul Pioneer Press, 3/9).