November 11, 2009 by Howie · 1 Comment 

On Friday, the Pawlenty administration announced that people enrolled in GAMC on March 1, 2010 will be automatically transitioned to MinnesotaCare by Minnesota’s Department of Human Services.

Though this is a step in the right direction, there is still a lot of work ahead. Some of the missing pieces of the proposed fix:

. Only people who are enrolled in GAMC on March 1 will be helped. The GAMC population is constantly changing and many thousands will be left behind.

. Uninsured, low-income adults who need treatment due to tramatic injury or acute illness after March 1 will still have to wait weeks or months for coverage, even under MinnesotaCare.

. MinnesotaCare is capped at $10,000. Many GAMC patients have bills much higher than this.

. Everyone who gets enrolled after March 1 will have to pay a MinnesotaCare premium, which is out of reach for many people experiencing homelessness.

. The Health Care Access Fund (which funds MinnesotaCare) is projected to run out of money within a year, which means even more Minnesotans will lose health care coverage unless there’s a legislative fix.

What needs to happen?

Please keep writing and calling your legislators and the Governor’s office. Working together, we will make sure the health care needs of Minnesota’s most vulnerable citizens are taken care of.

If you know anyone in other parts of the state, please ask them to contact their Representative on this issue.

Local representatives:
. Tom Huntley, District 7A | rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn | 651-296-2228
. Roger Reinert, District 7B | rep.roger.reinert@house.mn | 651-296-4246
. Mary Murphy, District 6B | rep.mary.murphy@house.mn | 651-296-2676
. David Dill, District 6A | rep.david.dill@house.mn | 651-296-2190

Popular Posts:

• WLSSD to host unwanted medication collection event
• Reinert bill helps New Page
• Did Derek Forbort make the correct decision to join the U.S. Under-18 National Development team
• Little picks up endorsements
• Breaking News | Home Edition winners named
• Breaking News: Mayor Don Ness saves Duluth
• Jenny Lee Blog: Little Bobby and the Storm was amazing
• St. Louis County Board wants citizens to connect with commissioners
• Knapp steps down as Duluth Northern Stars co-head coach
• Heritage Center
• Up North Hockey: Blackwoods, Subway and Stewarts off to fast start in prep league
• Duluth area philanthropy award winners announced
• National Bank of Commerce announces promotions, new hires
• Howie Hanson Blog: Rick and Cici Rickert expecting first child in early May
• Alan Hodnik named president of Allete
• Beth Olson announces candidacy for Duluth city council at-large
• Up North Hockey: Tardy a Minnesota Mr. Hockey Award finalist
• August ‘08 Visit Duluth Events Calendar
• Up North Hockey: Twin Ports Prep Hockey League Week 1 results
• Howie Hanson Sports Blog: Denfeld boys hockey team turning a lot of heads this season
• Polson, Lyons win Fitger’s 5K
• LSC student named MSCSA Governing Board Member of the Year
• Duluth to host forum on influenza pandemic recommendations
• Duluth Denfeld hires new coaches
• Photos from Sunday’s Shinedown concert
• Greyhounds third, Hilltoppers second in boy’s hockey preseason state poll
• Nos. 1-2 Minnesota bantam A teams to meet Saturday in Duluth; Howie Blog to provide live blogs of all East games
• Rep. Roger Reinert proposes win-win-win solution for Great Lakes Aquarium
• Howie Hanson Blog: Greater Downtown Council supports parking kiosks along Canal Park Drive
• Twin Ports Prep Hockey League semis today