Pawlenty Administration announces GAMC extension

T.W. Budig, ECM Capitol Reporter — The Pawlenty Administration has announced that the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) program, expected to end March 1, will be extended through the month.

The program was cut by Gov. Tim Pawlenty last session and the action has been highly charged politically — reinstating the program, which provides medical care for poor adults without children, has become a top priority for Democrats.

“The extra month of GAMC coverage is possible because program costs and new enrollment were lower than projected,” said Pawlenty in a statement.

The automatic transition of about 28,000 Minnesotans on GAMC to MinnesotaCare will continue, according to the administration.

No action is required from GAMC enrolls to be automatically transferred.