by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
An ambitious health care reform package — one including a cap on health care premium increases — that Senate DFLers argue could provide coverage to more than 40,000 uninsured Minnesotans was presented Wednesday (Jan. 10) at the State Capitol.
Ultimately, the Senate DFL goal is achieve universal health care coverage by 2010.
“I don’t think our health care system (currently) operates on a free market principles,” said Sen. Linda Berglin, DFL-Minneapolis, Senate Health and Human Services Budget Committee chairwoman.
By tapping into some $188 million in a health care access fund and general fund dollars, Senate DFLers propose a small business buy-in option to the state health care program MinnesotaCare, expanding eligibility for single adults and households without children, allowing children to become insured quicker.
Working together
In a provision of special interest to Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, the Senate DFL proposal would modify the definition of income for self-employed farmers, making health care access more achievable. It’s not odd for a Republican to stand among Democrats calling for health care reform, Koering explained. Voters sent a message last election, he argued. “People want us to work together and get something done,” said Koering.
Another focus of the Senate DFL proposal is simplifying paperwork people must wade through in order to apply for state health care programs.
Berglin held aloft a 26-page application form she joked required a lawyer or accountant to interpret. That form they want to knock down to four pages, she said.
Many of the 383,000 uninsured Minnesotans — the majority working — are in fact eligible for state programs but are not enrolled.
One reason might be people are frightened away by the paperwork, DFLers believe.
People face other problems.
Psychological testing needed
Mysty Shaney, 37, of Blaine, a single mother, said her seven-year-old son Joey is struggling in school and needs psychological testing costing $115 per hour. She can’t afford it. Her insurance won’t cover the cost and she makes too much money for government programs. “He’s at the point where he’s really suffering,” she said.
Berglin pointed to Shaney’s predicament as one the reform package seeks to address.
Senate DFLers believe they can meet the cost of their proposal — a similar one last year cost $60 million a year — without needing to raise taxes.
Berglin’s “very optimistic” ultimately 40,000 uninsured Minnesotans will benefit by the proposal.
Rather than cost money, Koering argued the proposal will save money.
Costs will be lowered because fewer uninsured people will need to seek treatment in emergency rooms rather than less expensive clinics, he said.
Open MinnesotaCare to small business
Koering, a small business person, also specifically endorsed the provision to open MinnesotaCare to small business. “As we all know small business is the backbone of the state and the country,” he said.
Under the Senate DFL proposal, small employers — those with two to 50 employees — could enroll their uninsured employees and dependents in MinnesotaCare.
Various restrictions apply.
This provision, Koering argued, could not only benefit workers but employers, as it would help stabilize their workforce.
In addition to their reforms, Senate DFLers propose a constitutional amendment that would mandate health insurance coverage for all Minnesotans. “I think it’s important to hold our feet to the fire, including my own,” said Berglin.
Not all Senate DFLers believe achieving universal health care coverage by 2010 is possible.
Sen. Leo Foley, DFL-Coon Rapids, believes all children might be covered by the end of the decade, but questions — considering the competing proposals — whether universal coverage can be achieved.
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, recently said she views this session more as an information gathering session rather than one to pass big health care reform bills.
But Berglin argues progress needs to be made now — bills passed this session.
Other features of package
Other features of the Senate DFL health care reform package include:
•Getting rid of MinnesotaCare premiums for members of the military and their families for 12 months.
•Creating a prescription drug program for people earning less than $60,000 for a family of four.
•Expanding the definition of dependent coverage if offered in an insurance policy to include unmarried children to the age of 25.
According to Senate DFLers, had a six percent cap on health care premium growth existed over the past five years, premiums for insurance enrolls would have been lowered an estimated $384 per person.
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