Budget deal on MinnesotaCare triples out-of-pocket costs, raises premiums for working Minnesotans

The Health and Human Services budget passed by Minnesota’s Senate and House of Representatives will increase health care costs for the working Minnesotans covered by MinnesotaCare. The Health and Human Services budget ( Senate File 1458) stops well short of the House’s attempt to repeal MinnesotaCare, but it raises out-of-pocket costs and premiums. Lawmakers made these changes to a time-tested, proven tool for affordable health care despite a projected surplus in the fund that pays for it. (more…)

Summary of HHS Omnibus Bill

For months, the single biggest difference between Republicans and Democrats at the Minnesota Capitol was health and human services. More than a billion dollars separated the two major proposals, to say nothing of controversial ideas: repealing MinnesotaCare, a deep purge of public program rolls, making MNsure a state agency and huge differences in nursing home funding.

But as the door closes on the 2015 legislative session, HHS was resolved with a whimper, not a roar. Almost no controversial provisions from either side got adopted in the final deal, which a committee adopted shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday morning after a marathon but largely non-contentious hearing. (more…)