As session’s end nears, DFLers continue to push for MA early enrollment

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Health care remains the central priority for DFLers as closed-door negotiations in pursuit of a session-ending deal continue into the early morning hours at the state Capitol.

DFLers are sticking to their priority of winning approval to do early enrollment in Medical Assistance, which is the state’s Medicaid program. The proposal, which would grab federal funding with a state match, covers single adults without children above 75 percent of the federal poverty guideline.

In sometimes heated rhetoric, House Republicans on Saturday continued to denounce the Medical Assistance proposal. Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, railed against the promise of federal funding as a “Ponzi” scheme.

“I think in a country where we’re a trillion-and-a-half dollars in deficit approaching the problems that Greece, Spain and Portugal have, I think it’s unreasonable to think that that money tree is going to continue shaking itself forever,” Abeler said.

Abeler and other Republicans’ frequent mention of “Obamacare” mobilized the Minnesota Hospitals Association, whose representatives worked the Capitol Press Corps Saturday afternoon to point out that the early enrollment program predates the Obama Administration. Wisconsin, Indiana, Connecticut and Hawaii are participating in the program, according to the hospitals.

The stain of Washington has continued to pose problems for the bill’s chances in gaining support among Republicans. One GOP state House member said tonight that negotiators are looking for “Minnesota-focused” language that uses state programs like General Assistance Medical Care and MinnesotaCare. MinnesotaCare gives Republicans piece of mind because of residency and asset requirements that are set in state law.

If negotiators can successfully clothe a health care proposal as sufficiently Minnesotan, the “Obamacare” rhetoric might subside. But besides the political posturing, there are funding challenges to hatching a bill that Gov. Tim Pawlenty will sign. The health and human services bill, which Pawlenty vetoed on Thursday, contained a number of surcharges to help pay for the federal match.

But a number of lobbyists and legislative staffers observed today that Minnesota hospital officials and the Mayo Clinic have expressed willingness to accept the hospital surcharge because they would be reimbursed at favorable rates by Medicaid. That has led some to wonder if Pawlenty can be swayed to accept at least the hospital surcharge.

In the long-term, DFLers are touting early enrollment’s savings for the state.

“For every dollar we invest, we get $7.54 from the federal government. That dollar is not new spending. That dollar comes from a reduction in provider dollars. So for no new state money, we draw down $7.54 and we cover more people. That’s a good thing,” said Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis.