ST. PAUL – State Representative Greg Davids (R-Preston) said he was discouraged by a health and human services budget proposal approved by Minnesota House Democrats this week that substantially increases spending but does little to address rising health care costs.
“What House Democrats are trying to do here is put government more in control of Minnesota’s health care system and add new policies that will ultimately raise Minnesotans’ health care costs,” Davids said.
Davids noted the proposal expands government run health care by putting the Department of Human Services (DHS) in charge of drug, dental, and nonemergency medical transport coverage for all public program enrollees. It also allows DHS to study how it could provide drug coverage to enrollees in the private market and offer their own insurance product competing in the private market, and exempts public programs from a slew of mandates that would be imposed on private insurers.
The bill would also extend Obamacare in state law if overturned federally, increase mandates and limitations for hospitals, and would dramatically change state welfare programs.
“This legislation spends hundreds of millions more when compared to the last budget cycle, yet the cost of health care is still going to rise,” Davids said. “Minnesotans deserve better.”