Dear Neighbors,
I hope you had a great fall and are enjoying the holiday season. With the return of December weather, I want to remind you that Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program is available to help eligible Minnesotans who struggle to afford to heat their homes. This program is free and provides benefits up to $1,400, with additional support to respond to emergencies. Both renters and homeowners can qualify, and eligibility is based on income and household size. This program is federally funded and administered by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. You can access the application here.
Free COVID Tests
With COVID still a threat, you can now order up to four free rapid-antigen COVID tests through the federal government’s at-home testing program to be delivered directly to your home. These tests are intended to be used by the end of this year. For more information or to place your order, you can visit COVIDTests.gov. Home tests–together with getting recommended vaccinations and staying home when infected– can prevent a lot of illness and deaths in our community.
Here is an update on some things I’m working on, a few things you may have missed, and some things coming up.
Health Licensing and Scope of Practice
Many health-related occupations are seeking to expand their scope of practice, become licensed, or join interstate licensing compacts. These bills fall under the jurisdiction of the Health Finance and Policy Committee, which I chair. The proper scope for an occupation can be controversial. Legislators try to strike the right balance between patient safety and access to services but we are usually not experts in these fields so the decisions can be difficult. This year, optometrists, physical therapists, and other groups are seeking scope expansions.
Health occupation licensing is also controversial because raising requirements to enter a profession can raise the cost of entry and fence out people who could be or are doing the same work. Examples of this year’s requests include veterinary technicians, certified (non-nurse) midwives, massage therapists, and naturopathic physicians.
Advocates submit a questionnaire explaining the request. These can be found here. I welcome your comments as these come forward.
Making Health Care More Accessible and Affordable
Our healthcare system is too complicated, too expensive, and too difficult to access. Private insurance companies and other middlemen act as gatekeepers to care, raising costs for patients and often wasting the time and energy of providers.
The legislature authorized several studies to help us improve the system. For example, we are awaiting a recommendation from the Minnesota Department of Commerce on a plan for a “public option” insurance plan and have commissioned a study on cost savings under the Minnesota Health Plan (a single-payer, universal coverage). And we continue to search for ways to reduce prescription costs for Minnesotans.
Recently, my committee held a hearing to examine Minnesota’s system of managing our public health care programs through private companies (called managed care organizations, or MCOs). We heard from experts about our current system and potential ways to save costs and improve health care access and outcomes for the approximately 1.4 million Minnesotans who use Medical Assistance (aka Medicaid) or MinnesotaCare. You can learn more about the hearing here, or watch it here.
New Laws
As a result of the historic legislative session of 2023, many new laws went into effect on July 1st and August 1st. The nonpartisan office of House Public Information has a summaries of these new laws here:
Earned Sick and Safe Time Starting Soon
Many new laws take longer to go into effect. Starting Jan. 1, 2024, Minnesota’s new earned sick and safe time law will ensure that all Minnesota employees can earn paid sick leave and have the opportunity to stay home when sick. This is the right thing to do for Minnesota’s workers and our economy, and it also protects public health by reducing the spread of communicable diseases. You can find a full FAQ of this important new law, here.
Flag Redesign Commission
Years ago I carried a bill to redesign Minnesota’s poorly designed and offensive state flag, so I’m excited that Minnesota is finally getting a new flag and seal. The commission received 2,123 flag submissions and 398 seal designs in total, but has recently narrowed the flag options to 3 and finalized the new state seal. If the legislature does not intervene the new emblems will become official on Minnesota Statehood Day on May 11.
Session Priorities Constituent Survey
As we prepare for the upcoming 2024 legislative session, House DFLers want to hear about the issues most important to you.
That’s why I wanted to share with you our Minnesota Values Project Survey, an easy way to share your values, hopes, challenges, and ideas with us on solutions at the legislature. It only takes a few minutes to fill out, and can be found here or using the QR code below.
Staying in Touch
Please contact me with your questions, comments, and concerns, or if I can ever be of assistance. The best way to reach me is to email me at rep.tina.liebling@house.mn.gov. Please be sure to include your postal address so I’ll know you are my constituent. If you call my Capitol office at 651-296-0573 and leave a message, please include your email and street address. I also encourage you to follow me at my official Facebook page here.
Thank you for allowing me to represent you.
Warmly,
Tina