Dear Friends,
This week I had the opportunity to visit a Mayo Clinic telemedicine kiosk over in Austin and learn more about advances in telemedicine technology and how they can eventually help bring more health care access to people in all parts of Minnesota. These kiosks are part of a pilot program that will eventually expand to Albert Lea and hopefully other parts of the state.
Last session we passed bipartisan legislation signed into law by Governor Dayton to make sure that people on private health insurance plans and on Medical Assistance programs are covered for telemedicine visits. If more private and public plans reimburse for telemedicine, it will encourage more providers in other parts of the state to invest in these new exciting technologies. I also joined several of my colleagues this in signing a letter to Minnesota's members of Congress to support legislation that expands telemedicine coverage for Medicare patients. As telemedicine becomes more and more common, I want our aging loved ones on Medicare to be able to take advantage of telemedicine as well.
Telemedicine is an opportunity for us to harness technology to reduce health care costs while increasing access and quality of care for people, especially in rural parts of the state. In the near future, people in rural Minnesota will be able to connect with some of the best doctors and specialists in the world without having to travel all the way to the Twin Cities, Rochester, or another state.
You can read more about my visit in the Austin Daily Herald by clicking here or on the picture below.
First Child Protection Task Force Meeting
Next Tuesday I will be participating in my first meeting as a member of the new Legislative Task Force on Child Protection. Over the next few months, we will be reviewing the reforms passed this year and brainstorming additional ways to improve our state child protection laws to make sure no child falls through the cracks.
If you have any ideas about ways to improve the way we go about protecting children, please let me know! This is a team effort and we will be taking input from experts, county workers, and constituents before issuing our recommendations early next year.
Yesterday afternoon I gave a legislative update to the residents at Field Crest Care center in Hayfield. I enjoyed spending time talking with them during their coffee hour afterwards too. If you have a meeting or event you'd like me to stop by, please let me know! If it works with my schedule I'd love to join.
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Back to school season will be here before you know it! I've enjoyed spending evenings this week at the Freeborn County Fair and being able to chat with many people. I will be there on off over the weekend, so if you see me please stop by and say hi! I'd love to chat with you and get your feedback and thoughts on the legislative session and any other issues that are on your mind.
Email me any time at rep.peggy.bennett@house.mn or call my office at 651-296-8216. You can also follow my updates on Facebook at www.facebook.com/reppeggybennett or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/PeggyABennett.
Have a great weekend!
Peggy Bennett
State Representative, District 27A