Keith Fights to Save Health Insurance for 18,000 Minnesotans
9-10-08
Keith has introduced legislation to keep 18,000 Minnesotans from being kicked off Minnesota’s Medicaid program. Keith’s bill is a direct response to a Bush administration move to gut Minnesota’s innovative Medicaid program MinnesotaCare.
The State of Minnesota had worked with the federal government for more than a decade to renew two of its current federal health care waivers for Medicaid programs. In a decision this past August that Keith called “callous and over-reaching,” the Bush Administration tried to force Minnesota to cut back its Medicaid program by September 10th or risk losing $135 million in federal dollars. Keith wants the federal government to extend Minnesota’s health care waivers through April 2009.
“The Bush administration has once again shown its priorities by choosing to cut health care for 18,000 of our most vulnerable citizens. I hope Congress adopts my legislation quickly, sparing Minnesotans undue pain until we find a long-term solution,” Keith said.
“With 46 million Americans still uninsured, with 6 percent unemployment (the highest it’s been in five years); and with mortgage foreclosures at an all-time high, we should not be taking away health care from Minnesotans who need it now more than ever.”
Read the news article here.