WHAT IS THE MINNESOTA HEALTH PLAN?
The MN Health Plan (MnHP) would be a single, statewide plan that would cover all Minnesotans for all their medical needs. Under the plan, patients would be able to see the medical providers of their choice when they need care, and their coverage by the health plan would not end when they lose their job or switch to a new employer. Consumers would use the same doctors and medical professionals, the same hospitals and clinics, but all the payments, covering all of the costs, would be made by the MnHP, and everyone would be covered.
The plan would be funded by all Minnesotans, based on the ability to pay, and would cover all health care costs, replacing all premiums currently paid by employees and employers, as well as all co-payments, deductibles, all payments for care by the uninsured or under-insured, and all costs of government health care programs.
Although the MN Health Plan is not cheap, it is significantly less expensive than our current system, and it would provide a full range of health care services to everyone, greatly improving the health of the population.
SENATOR JOHN MARTY EXPLAINS THE MINNESOTA HEALTH PLAN
This excellent video from Minnesota Senate video features a cogent explanation of the MHP - check it out!
THE FEDERAL HEALTH CARE BILL
Read contrasting opinions.
THE MINNESOTA HEALTH PLAN WINS!
Rep. David Bly debates the Minnesota Health Plan in front of a packed hearing room
The House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee took the Minnesota Health Plan off the table on February 23 and debated it in a room packed with advocates. House chief author David Bly fielded questions from Committee members before their 11 - 6 vote.
We are off to a great start in the House!!
THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSES THE MINNESOTA HEALTH PLAN!
Dr. Ed Ehlinger (U of MN) and Senator Marty at the witness table
The Senate Judiciary Committee by a voice vote approved passage of the Minnesota Health Plan, SF 118 on Thursday, February 11. This means three Senate committees have approved the bill so far.
Before approving the bill, the committee discussed and made some language changes. Most discussion focused on whether the Plan's Ombudsman's Office should be located in the Attorney General's Office. In addition, the Committee specified that Health Plan records be treated in the same manner as other private records in the hands of state government. (Based on a report by Ken Peterson)
The next step: the Minnesota Health Plan will be taken off the table and voted upon by the House Health Policy Committee.
Advocates at the Senate Judiciary Committe hearing
LET'S SHOW THE COURAGE OF OUR CONVICTIONS
Read a terrific essay by the chief author of the Minnesota Health Plan in the Senate that places our proposal in the context of progressive reform more generally. Should we compromise early in an attempt at meeting the other side in the middle or should we put real solutions on the table? Read it here.
Why the Current Bills Don't Solve Our Health Care Crisis
by Michael Moore
Oscar and Emmy-winning director
Co-authored with Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director, California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee
Now we know why they've stopped calling this health care reform, and started calling it insurance reform. The current bills advancing in Congress look more like rearranging the deck chairs on the insurance Titanic than actually ending our long health care nightmare.
Some laudable elements are in various versions of the bills, especially expanding Medicaid, cutting the private insurance-padding waste of Medicare Advantage, and limiting the ability of the insurance giants to ban and dump people who have been or who ever will be sick.
But, overall, the leading bills and the President's proposal are, like the dog that didn't bark, more notable for what is missing.
Here are 13 problems with the current health care bills (partial list)
A Terrific Video Explaining Single Payer Health Care
This short video is informative and entertaining. Check it out!
MnHP Hearing - House Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee
House committee tables the Minnesota Health Plan after first reading
HF315 was tabled at the House Health Care and Human Services Policy hearing. Read about the hearing here (from Workday Minnesota).
This means that we need to contact the legislators of the Committee before debate re-commences in second session!
Click here for a list of members of the Health Care and Human Services Policy and Oversight Committee and their contact information.
For coverage of the hearing, click here and here. Dr. R. Paul Olson submitted an essay on the ethical basis of single-payer reform to the Committee. Read it here. Documents submitted to the Committee chair for this hearing are here.
Read this health care story
This heart-wrenching story features a new-born infant, a tiny defective heart and an equally defective insurance company policy. It takes place on the west coast but the grandparents are Twin Cities residents and active in our health reform movement. Read it!
The People Are Ahead Of Their Leadership
The latest CBS NEWS/NEW YORK TIMES POLL was released on February 1, 2009. It shows that Americans are more likely today to embrace the idea of the government providing health insurance than they were 30 years ago. 59% say the government should provide national health insurance, including 49% who say such insurance should cover all medical problems. In January 1979, four in 10 thought the federal government should provide national insurance. Back then, more Americans thought health insurance should be left to private enterprise.
from the survey:
HEALTH INSURANCE: PRIVATE ENTERPRISE VS. GOVERNMENT? |
||
CBS/NYT Now |
CBS/NYT 1/1979 |
|
Private enterprise |
32% |
48% |
Government – all problems |
49 |
28 |
Government – emergencies |
10 |
12 |
Don’t know |
9 |
12 |
ANOTHER VICTORY !
The Senate Commerce Committee passed the MHP on Tuesday, February 10th, by a 7 - 3 vote!
Thank you, advocates!!
See a video of the hearing here (Real player) or here (Windows Media player).
MSNBC covers the hearing
Read about it in the Minnesota Independent
VICTORY IN THE SENATE HEALTH, HOUSING AND FAMILY SECURITY COMMITTEE!
On January 26, the Senate Health Committee passed the Minnesota Health Plan by a 8 - 5 vote! A strong advocate turn-out helped the members realize the value of the MnHP, including new supporter, Senator Linda Berglin!
JOHN MARTY, COUNTERPOINT: A PLAN TO COVER ALL MINNESOTANS
As proposed, the MHP would offer truly comprehensive care along with cuts in administrative costs.
By JOHN MARTY, Star Tribune, Commentary, January 22, 2009
A recent letter claimed that the proposed Minnesota Health Plan would save only 5 percent, through administrative cost reductions. That's almost $2 billion per year. Yet the savings are even greater, because insurance company administrative expenses are only one of many savings. The MnHP would cover all Minnesotans for all of their medical needs, including prescription drugs, dental care, nursing-home care, vision care, immunizations and preventive care, chemical-dependency treatment, mental health -- truly comprehensive medical care. It would dramatically reduce administrative costs in every hospital and clinic... Read more...
RALLY FOR THE MINNESOTA HEALTH PLAN A BIG SUCCESS!
Hundreds of advocates for the Minnesota Health Plan gathered at the Capitol in Saint Paul on January 5. It was an impressive showing! The day started with a review of the bill for advocates, chaired by Dave Moe, and featuring Senator John Marty. Rep. David Bly, Rep. Carolyn Laine, Prof. Jack Nelson Palmeyer, and MN Farmers' Union President Doug Peterson also attended and briefly spoke
.
The mid-day rally in the Capitol rotunda was attended by an enthusiastic, overflow crowd. Senator Marty, Rep. Bly and numerous other backers of the MnHP solution spoke, while Julian Loscalzo emceed. We also got media coverage from Minnesota Public TV and other outlets. Following the rally, advocates fanned out to their legislators' ofices to talk up the Minnesota Health Plan.
The Minnesota Health System Explained For You
-- Cartoon by Lisa Krahn, Seven County Senior Federation