Minnesota Health Security Act
The Minnesota Health Security Act was introduced in the 2009 legislative session. The chief authors are Senator Tony Lourey (SD 08), and Representative Paul Thissen (HD 63A).
The bill was proposed and is being supported by the "Make Health Happen" campaign whose coalition partners are TakeAction Minnesota, AFSCME Council 5, Children's Defense Fund Minnesota, Education Minnesota, ISAIAH, Minnesota Nurses Association, SEIU Minnesota State Council, the Minnesota AFL-CIO, and the Land Stewardship Project.
The MN Health Security Act would provide coverage to all children initially, with no premium or co-pay, it would extend coverage to adults in its second phase for no more than 5% of family income. Service delivery methods, providers and payment systems will be determined by the department of human services. For the present, the bill leaves room for a multi-payer system and multiple networks.
Here is the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition's statement on the Minnesota Health Security Act:
The Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition supports the goals of the MN Health Security Act: universal coverage for children, quality improvement and decreased barriers to care.
However, we remain committed to single-payer health care as the most efficient, equitable, and cost effective system of universal coverage.
Therefore, we will continue to organize, advocate, and lobby for passage of the single-payer Minnesota Health Plan (MN Health Act, SF118/HF135).
Click here for a one page handout comparing the Minnesota Health Act and the Minnesota Health Security Act.
Click here for a detailed comparison of the two bills.
Click here to read the bill.