SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL- St. Paul) hailed Senate passage of the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget bill today, saying it will help preserve access to health care for people across the state, which will be especially important as the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans threaten to cut health care for millions of Americans.
“The Health and Human Services Budget passed by the Senate today preserves health care for Minnesotans at the very same time Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are trying hard to take it away from families across our state,” said Majority Leader Murphy. “Our bill will keep Minnesotans healthy, bring down costs, and prevent fraud. We will continue our urgent work to ensure that the uncertainty and chaos coming from Republicans in Washington, D.C. doesn’t harm people and families in our state.
During today’s floor session, we saw Republicans try to strip healthcare access from thousands of taxpaying immigrants who have made Minnesota their home. Their opposition to that program goes against the positions of doctors, hospitals, nurses, insurers, labor and faith groups. In another amendment, every single Republican voted to take access to reproductive care from hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. I am proud that our caucus stood strong against this extremism and to protect our rights.”
Measure Brings Down Costs, Prevents Fraud, Strengthens Emergency Medical Services
Provisions in the Senate-passed HHS budget bill will:
- Prevent fraud by strengthening the Program Integrity Oversight (PIO) division in the Office of Inspector General in DHS, which oversees Medicaid programs. Investing in more investigators and legal staff across the PIO unit will enable the state to respond to the increasing sophistication of businesses abusing Medicaid.
- Cut insurance premiums by 20% for Minnesotans in the individual market by establishing the Premium Subsidy program.
- Fund $12 million in nutrition assistance to feed families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
- Support the emergency medical system through workforce development, training grants and grants to address operating deficits. The bill also increases ambulance service rates by 15% overall and 25% for rural ambulance service providers.
- Establish dementia services program to ensure those affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s have access to care.
House-Senate negotiators will now work out the differences between the bills passed in each chamber.
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