But DFL health co-chair Bierman said when people can’t access regular health care, they wind up in overburdened emergency rooms where providers are obligated to treat people regardless of whether they have insurance. He said treatment for undocumented immigrants costs the state either way.
Hospitals, physicians, nurses, immigration groups and the Minnesota Catholic Conference opposed removing coverage for undocumented immigrants in a committee hearing earlier this session.
Bierman said the only things that will make it through the tied House are areas where the GOP and DFL can find agreement, which takes “a lot of time and energy.” But he said he’s confident they will figure it out.
“There’s a reason they call this the season of disappointment in most legislatures because you never get everything you want,” he said. “You have to negotiate, and you have to compromise.“
In the Senate, lawmakers are looking to a provider tax to raise additional funds for the health budget to avoid some program cuts. Sen. Melissa Wiklund, DFL-Bloomington, chairs the Senate health committee and said the chamber may have more work to do on the health budget depending on what deal Senate and House leaders strike as they work to come up with a joint framework. Since the House committee hasn’t released a budget, she said it’s difficult to know what representatives’ priorities will be.
GOP Sen. Paul Utke, of Park Rapids, said he didn’t believe the Senate health bill met the goals of reducing health care costs and making it more accessible to Minnesotans. He serves as the ranking Republican on the committee.
