ST. PAUL, MN—Representative John Petersburg, R-Waseca, sent a letter last week to Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson and Governor Mark Dayton expressing concerns over the statewide procurement decision and its impacts on the South Country Health Alliance (SCHA). SCHA was recently awarded just one county contract out of the 11 counties it currently serves, meaning thousands of residents on MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance could be forced to change plans and enroll through a different provider. The decision means an 85% overall reduction in membership, which could threaten the future viability of SCHA and their 100 employees—more than half of which reside in Steele County.
Petersburg urges Commissioner Jesson and Governor Dayton to reconsider the short and long-term implications of the decision to move away from SCHA and requested that they allow the full appeal process to take place before finalizing managed care contract decisions.
"Thousands of families in our community rely on SCHA for access to quality care and plans they can rely on that meet the needs of their loved ones," Petersburg said. "I hope the Governor and Commissioner Jesson will consider the long and short-term implications of this system. Moving thousands seniors and low-income families to new plans could mean unnecessary headaches, and job losses for dozens of employees here in Steele County. It's my hope we can find a solution that finds the cost savings we're looking for without the hassle and disruptions that could be caused by moving away from SCHA.
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