Politics & Government
A Long, Spirited Debate on Healthcare Exchange Expected Today in MN House
Minnesota legislators will work to turn the Healthcare Exchange bill into law by March 31 otherwise the state would operate under a national exchange run by the federal government.
A long, spirited debate on state-run health care exchange is expected today on the House Floor in St. Paul.
HF5, and many amendments to it, are expected to be at the heart of that debate — as legislators work to turn the bill into law by March 31 otherwise the state would operate under a national exchange run by the federal government.
House Majority Leader Erin Murphy (D-St. Paul) during media availability last week called the bill a representation of good bipartisanship, but House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt (R-Crown) said there’s been little compromise.
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“They haven’t taken one substantive Republican amendment yet,” he said. “There are tons of problems with this bill.”
Among the biggest problems in the health exchange, he said, is the governing board the bill would create, would not include any health insurance industry professionals.
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“Imagine a Met Council-like board of seven unelected officials empowered to make decisions about what health insurance plans you’re allowed to purchase and able to inflict a 3.5 percent gross premium tax on plans within the exchange,” Rep. Kathy Lohmer (R-Stillwater) wrote in last week’s Legislative Review. “That is what we’re debating on Monday.
As a member of the Health and Human Services Policy Committee for most of the time I have served in the legislature, I understand how important it is for people to have quality healthcare coverage.
Minnesota has been a leader in delivering quality healthcare at competitive costs while offering state-subsidized healthcare coverage to low-income individuals in a cost-effective manner. This proposed Health Insurance Exchange has no guarantee of keeping rates low, maintaining good quality of care, or expanding.”
In addition to offering amendments to the bill for Monday, Daudt said Republicans will be talking about the facts, what’s good for Minnesota, its economy and job creators.
-- Liz Stoever of Minnesota House of Representatives Public Information Service contributed to this report.
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