- Deal on state health coverage for the poor is unraveling, By Tom Scheck, April 21, 2010, Minnesota Public Radio: “It looks like the deal to continue state-paid health care for Minnesota’s poorest residents is unraveling. The Hennepin County Board has rejected a contract with the state to have Hennepin County Medical Center take part in a new version of General Assistance Medical Care. Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said HCMC initially applied to treat the state’s poorest residents, but that was under the assumption that 16 other hospitals would also join in. To date, only five hospitals have applied, prompting concern that more and more GAMC patients would show up at HCMC for medical treatment…”
- HCMC could undo health care plan for poor, By Warren Wolfe, April 22, 2010, Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune: “A delicate compromise to continue health coverage for about 37,000 poor Minnesotans, hammered out last month between DFL leaders and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, suffered a major blow Tuesday when Hennepin County commissioners rejected the state’s terms. While they didn’t rule out participation by their hospital, Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), commissioners said they need a better deal for taking on 10,000 or so poor patients in the revamped General Assistance Medical Care program, scheduled to start June 1. Without participation by HCMC, the biggest provider for these patients, the new program might fail. At least one other hospital said Wednesday that it would back out if Hennepin County does, and several outstate hospitals said last week they will not participate…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty