Tag: health care

AG Ellison, Health Experts, Community Leaders Slam Trump’s Failed Leadership on Health Care Ahead of Pence Visit


ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – Ahead of Pence’s visit to Minneapolis this afternoon, DFL Party leaders and health experts held a press call slamming the Trump administration for its failed leadership on health care, particularly Trump’s attacks on the Affordable Care Act in the middle of a global health crisis, and his attempts to gut protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Leaders also addressed Trump’s attempts to use “law and order” to divide and distract from his failed presidency. The call featured Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minnesota Nurses Association First Vice President Bernadine Engeldorf, former Obama health care advisor Andy Slavitt, State Senate candidate Lindsey Port (District 56), who had COVID-19, State Senate candidate Dr. Aleta Borrud (District 26), and Minneapolis resident Jessica Intermill, who has a pre-existing condition.

Excerpts from call:

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison: 

“We’ve now surpassed 200,000 Americans who’ve passed away, among those is my own mom… But you could also include the brother of our lieutenant governor, you can include the father of Ilhan Omar, our congresswoman in the fifth district. This thing is personal and there are so many people we have lost to COVID that it’s getting to the point that everybody knows somebody who lost someone. 

“The government could have done something about it. It simply didn’t have to be this way. And the truth is, it has to do with who we choose to lead our country, and our state, and our cities. But it really does start with the top. You know, we have fifty different public health strategies going on because of the federal government, because of Donald Trump and Mike Pence, who just said: ‘We don’t even believe in it. We’re gonna fight tooth and nail with the people who do know what they’re talking about, like Anthony Fauci. We’re going to go after states that are trying to do the right thing.’”

Minnesota Nurses Association First Vice President Bernadine Engeldorf: 

“We know our healthcare is in crisis today, particularly with the current leadership. Nurses are on the forefront 24/7, and do feel that their voices are important in our health care today. Trump basically has failed to contain the COVID-19, mainly because he didn’t listen to experts. Apparently not believing science, didn’t take it seriously, and didn’t have a plan in our approach of care during this pandemic. Even during the pandemic, he still tried to repeal our health care for millions, including protections for many as four in 10, who are Americans with pre-existing conditions. 

“Trump still claims that the virus will miraculously disappear. He supports treatments that are not accurate or not truthful or not going to help diminish the pandemic. He has not supported social distancing and wearing of the mask as we can see in many of the events he participates in.

“And these issues have been given renewed importance. With the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the Trump’s administration’s current case before the Supreme Court on the future, the ACA. We know that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will want to build the ACA, expand affordable coverage, lower prescription drug costs, and ensure a no-cost COVID vaccine. Nurses certainly stand in support of that.”

State Senate candidate Lindsey Port (District 56): 

On health care: “I am a mom with two elementary-aged kids in a hybrid schedule. I run a nonprofit. I’m a candidate for the Minnesota State Senate. And I’m a survivor of COVID-19…It’s at this moment, during a global pandemic we’ve failed horrifically to contain, that the Trump administration is fighting in court to end the protections of coverage for pre-existing conditions by dismantling the ACA. If they are successful, more than 90,000 Minnesotans could find themselves unable to get insurance coverage simply because they contracted COVID. The kidney complications I’ve suffered could become a pre-existing condition making my family liable for thousands of dollars in medical care that our insurance company could then deny. Insurance companies are already trying to fight us on this coverage. And if the Trump administration gives for-profit insurance companies the right to decide what they want to cover, we will be in a world of trouble.”

On public safety: “I think it’s a really important question, because this is certainly the conversation we’re having in the suburbs. This election cycle is this law and order and community safety question. I don’t understand how we can look at 200,000 Americans dead over six months and not call that a public safety issue. Health care, access to health care, and managing this pandemic is 1,000%, a public safety and community safety issue. In my district, when we’re talking about this, people are concerned about how their kids are going to go to school safely. They’re concerned about access to affordable housing. They’re concerned about access to health care and prescription drug prices. They’re absolutely concerned about relationships between our community and the police. And that is definitely a part of this conversation. But it is not divorced from the pandemic. And the conversation we’re having in our community in the suburbs is about smart investments that we can make in our community that actually make us safer. And those are things like mental health and public health resources. They are school counselors, they are investments in affordable housing, and they are access to health care, which is certainly the number one crisis we are facing at this moment.”

Former Obama health care advisor Andy Slavitt: 

On health care: “Look, we all know we’re going through a very traumatic, difficult time in our history. We failed at some basic things. We failed to contain the virus when it came to our shores. We failed to plan appropriately, to make sure that we had enough testing. We failed to adjust as things grew and changed. But in this time, we really failed to provide people with the leadership or the confidence that we were moving in the right direction… There’s not a Republican way to manage a pandemic, there’s not a Democratic way to manage a pandemic, there’s a good way to manage them and a bad way to manage a pandemic. And hundreds of thousands of people are gone without so much as a sorrowful word is not the kind of leadership we need.”

On public safety: “I’d encourage you to read Joe Biden’s statement last night, you know, in calling for both justice, but also an end to violence, and no violence… You know, I served with Joe Biden, he is someone who diffuses these situations. My fear is that in these types of situations, President Trump and Vice President Pence come and use them as distractions, number one, and then also, in the process, create more heat and more fear. Joe Biden doesn’t think that’s the answer. Kamala Harris doesn’t think that the answer, there’s no conceding whatsoever to fear, we should never concede to fear. We go through tough moments as a country, we need leaders who can get us through those moments.”

State Senate candidate Aleta Borrud (District 26): 

“I’m a doctor trained in public health. And I know that the highest responsibility of our elected leaders in this global health emergency is to provide clear, consistent and fact-based messages to the public about what we need to do to stop the spread of COVID. Governor Walz, his administration, in fact, have done this. They’ve delivered consistent messages from the beginning. But this has been countered by the willful and dangerous misinformation coming from this president. And this is misinformation that has been echoed so irresponsibly by many of Minnesota’s Republican leaders. My frontline medical community of Rochester, home of the Mayo Clinic, deserves better than what this Trump administration is delivering. Our medical providers are fearful to go home to their families after caring for patients. Because of this, they deserve better. All the workers who are sick and dying because they lack adequate PPE across this country deserve better. And actually, our voters deserve better. I talked to so many people who are now confused about masks. You know, are they safe? Is it going to hurt my heart failure? Do they actually work? voters also tell me that when a vaccine becomes available, they are afraid to take it because they’re not sure that it will be safe or effective. The Trump administration is undermining the people’s faith in all of our public institutions.” 

Jessica Intermill, Minneapolis resident: 

On health care: “I’m here to share my story, which starts 10 years ago, way before the pandemic, I was a healthy 31-year-old. My husband and I decided it was time to start our family. And about four weeks into the pregnancy, I could tell something was wrong. Pain in my joints got a little bit worse each day. And by the time I was seven months pregnant, my disease was so advanced that when I saw a rheumatologist for the first time, from across the room, he was able to diagnose me with rheumatoid arthritis. I went home and cried. And 22 days later I delivered our daughter.

“If you see me on the street today, you won’t be able to see the holes that my disease has eaten into my bones. You won’t see the fistfuls of pills that I take every day to keep me healthy. You won’t know that my care in the eight and a half years since I was diagnosed, cost $496,000. You won’t know that just one drug costs $46,000 every year. But the thing about a chronic illness is you can’t put it down. I have to pay these costs. I don’t get to pretend it’s not there during a pandemic. I don’t get to not be immunocompromised anymore. My disease doesn’t care that one drug, the $46,000 a year drug, that’s $125 per day for the rest of my life COVID or not.

“I can’t afford that without insurance. I don’t know anyone else who can.

“A car accident doesn’t care how much it costs to take the ambulance to the hospital. COVID doesn’t care how much it costs to keep you on a respirator. And it’s clear now that President Trump doesn’t care either. His continuing attacks on the ACA, his refusal to put forth any plan, even while he’s attacking coverage for pre-existing conditions, even when he’s trying to get rid of lifetime limits. It shows that he cares more about corporate profits than he does about people. He doesn’t care whether my daughter has a mom who’s healthy enough to care for her.”

On public safety: “Maybe this is a mom answer, but I don’t know how you say that you’re not going to listen to the election of the American people and maybe not cede power in any sort of peaceful way and call yourself the law and order president. I mean, I don’t know how you don’t pay attention to what the FDA guidance is about a safe vaccine and call yourself the law and order president. It’s not real. It’s a distraction.

Rep. Phillips Co-Sponsors Landmark Legislation to Lower Costs, Increase Access to Health Care

Legislation will create a public option for Minnesotans to buy into the state’s Medicaid program

WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, Rep. Dean Phillips announced he is co-sponsoring the State Public Option Act, landmark health care legislation that will allow Americans to buy into their state’s Medicaid program. Prohibitively high costs continue to deny many Minnesotans access to healthcare every day even as the COVID-19 pandemic threatens our community. A state-based public option would open up healthcare access to thousands of Minnesotans while providing a viable health insurance option for those without employer-provided insurance.

Under this Medicaid Buy-in program, states will set the terms for how the public-option will be implemented. Enrollees will have access to Medicaid’s provider network and benefit set and the state will determine the premiums, deductibles, and other cost-sharing. Cost will be much lower due to smaller administrative overhead. A 2013 Congressional Budget Office estimate of a similar public option found that premiums would be on average 7-8% less than on the individual market.

“Lowering the cost of health care for my constituents and all Americans has been a top priority since I joined Congress in 2019,”said Rep. Phillips, “and this legislation does just that. The State Public Option Act will expand health coverage to thousands of Minnesotans, allow states to become policy innovators, and encourage more people to pursue their dreams with affordable health insurance. A public health insurance option is the next step toward achieving a health care system with truly universal access, as we continue to grapple with a pandemic that has changed so many aspects of our lives. We are all connected — my neighbor’s health is about my health, too.”

Continue reading “Rep. Phillips Co-Sponsors Landmark Legislation to Lower Costs, Increase Access to Health Care”

Schumer seeks focus on health care amid impeachment fever

The Hill logoSenate Democrats plan to force vulnerable Republicans to vote on legislation that would overturn a controversial Trump administration directive on ObamaCare.

The strategy shows Democrats will continue playing offense on ObamaCare, which for years was a political liability for the party. The 2010 law was by and large unpopular until the GOP nearly eradicated it during the last Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) this month will make targeted GOP incumbents such as Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Cory Gardner (Colo.) and Martha McSally (Ariz.) take a tough vote.

View the complete October 16 article by Alexander Bolton on The Hill website here.

Counterpoint: Legislators should make insulin policy, not give medical advice

People who live with diabetes should consult carefully with their physician, and we should find a way to make it affordable.

The Minnesota Legislature is having a serious debate about how to bring down the soaring cost of prescription drugs. Lifesaving drugs have become inaccessible to many because of their high cost. Insulin is a particularly egregious example, tragically brought into focus by the death of Alec Smith, a young man who died because he had to ration the insulin he could no longer afford. We are working to find a way to prevent another unnecessary tragedy by ensuring that people who live with diabetes have access to the insulin they need to survive.

As legislators, we should not dispense medical advice. Rep. Jeremy Munson, R-Lake Crystal, inserted himself (“Over-the-counter insulin is a viable option,” Oct. 4) into the patient-physician relationship by recommending that insulin-dependent diabetics use a $25 insulin option from Walmart.

As the only physicians in the Minnesota House, we feel compelled to respond.

View the complete October 8 commentary by Reps. Alice Mann and Kelly Morrison here.

Number of Americans With Preexisting Conditions by District for the 116th Congress

Center for American Progress logoTo download the table showing estimates by state and district for the 116th Congress, click here.

A court case now under deliberation in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could have devastating consequences for people with preexisting health conditions. In Texas v. United States, 18 states’ attorneys general—with support from the Trump administration—are challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the law’s consumer protections that prevent insurance companies in the individual market from discriminating against people with preexisting conditions. These protections include a ban on varying rates according to gender or health status, a guarantee that plans issue coverage to anyone who wants to enroll, and a requirement that all plans cover 10 categories of essential health benefits. If the court rules in the plaintiffs’ favor, the lawsuit could bring down the entire ACA in the plaintiff states or for the whole country. Continue reading “Number of Americans With Preexisting Conditions by District for the 116th Congress”

Wednesday at 10:30: House DFL hosts roundtable to address soaring cost of insulin

House DFL logoSAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Minnesota House DFL lawmakers have announced plans for a series of Community Conversations across the state to give Minnesotans an opportunity to share their concerns and ideas for improving access to insulin and addressing the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. The first roundtable is scheduled for Wednesday, August 14 at 10:30 a.m. in Room 120 of the State Capitol. Live video will be available courtesy of House Public Information Services here. Minnesotans who depend on insulin for themselves and their families and have experienced high costs are invited to join legislators to discuss the next steps to solve this crisis facing far too many Minnesotans.

“Minnesotans shouldn’t lose their lives because they can’t afford the lifesaving medications they need, like insulin,” said Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman. “The DFL Majority in the Minnesota House passed and sent to conference committee a strong proposal that would both help Minnesotans and hold the pharmaceutical industry accountable for the greed that is fueling this crisis. After the work of a bipartisan group of legislators, it’s critical to bring the public back into this process. We need to hear directly from Minnesotans about how this issue affects them and how best to address it.”

The price of insulin has tripled in the last decade, and studies indicate that 1 in 4 diabetics have resorted to rationing their insulin due to the high cost. During the last legislative session, the DFL-led Minnesota House passed the Alec Smith Emergency Insulin Act as part of the House Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill. Named for a Richfield resident who tragically died after being forced to ration his insulin due to the high cost of the drug, the bill would establish an emergency supply of insulin for diabetics who are unable to pay for prescription refills. Reimbursements for pharmacies would be paid through a fee on insulin manufacturers. Continue reading “Wednesday at 10:30: House DFL hosts roundtable to address soaring cost of insulin”

White House races to come up with health-care wins for Trump’s campaign

Washington Post logoWhite House advisers, scrambling to create a health-care agenda for President Trump to promote on the campaign trail, are meeting at least daily with the aim of rolling out a measure every two to three weeks until the 2020 election.

One of the initiatives would allow states to import lower-priced drugs from Canada and other countriesand another would bar Medicare from paying more than any other country for prescription drugs, according to two senior administration officials and lobbyists — controversial ideas in line with Democratic proposals. Yet it remains unclear whether the administration has the legal authority to execute some of these policies without Congress’s approval.

The White House is already facing fierce pushback on some proposals from Republicans on Capitol Hill and the pharmaceutical industry, which will probably go to court to challenge any measure it opposes.

View the complete July 31 article by Yasmeen Abutaleb and Josh Dawsey on The Washington Post website here.

So You Want to Overturn Obamacare. Here Are Some Things That Would Be Headaches.

New York Times logoPeople would lose insurance, but workplace lactation rooms, menu calorie information and entire government programs would also be affected.

It’s not just that 21 million people would probably lose health insurance, or that 133 million Americans with pre-existing conditions would lose their protection. Those effects would be the major focus of attention if the Affordable Care Act were to be struck down.

But the law was much, much broader, affecting a wide range of health programs, even some areas you might not think of as related to health. Overturning the entire law would mean all of its parts, in theory, would go away at once.

On Tuesday, a federal appeals court heard arguments from 18 Republican-led states and the Justice Department that the law should be invalidated. In some ways, that echoes arguments made to the courts in 2012, before much of the law was first put in. Repealing it then would have been a big deal. But doing so now, after so many of its provisions have unspooled, would be much trickier and more consequential.

View the complete July 10 article by argo Sanger-Katz on The New York Times website here.

DFL Statement on Trump’s Latest Attack on our Health Care

“A Trump ‘victory’ in this lawsuit would deal a catastrophic blow to our entire health care system”

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA – Today, the Affordable Care Act is back in court thanks to another Republican lawsuit against the popular law. In an unusual twist, Donald Trump’s Department of Justice will not be defending the A.C.A. Instead, they sided with Republicans seeking to have the Affordable Care Act declared unconstitutional.

“It’s almost a time-honored tradition at this point, Donald Trump and the Republicans once again trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which is working for millions of Americans. If this Trump-backed lawsuit ends the Affordable Care Act, it will jeopardize the health insurance of over one million Minnesotans,” said Ken Martin, Chairman of the Minnesota DFL. “And despite their promises, Trump and his Republican allies in Congress have no replacement plan in place if the ACA is eliminated. A Trump ‘victory’ in this lawsuit would deal a catastrophic blow to our entire health care system, and that should disturb every single Minnesotan.”

If the Republican lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act is successful:

“It’s clear that Donald Trump and his Republican allies will not be satisfied until they’ve ripped health care coverage away from vulnerable families across our state,” added Martin. “No means no, President Trump. How many times do Americans have to say we don’t want the ACA repealed or replaced for you to listen?”

Would Medicare-for-all mean hospitals for none?

Washington Post logo“If you go to every hospital in this country and you ask them one question, which is, ‘How would it have been for you last year if every one of your bills were paid at the Medicare rate?’ Every single hospital administrator said they would close. And the Medicare-for-all bill requires payments to stay at current Medicare rates. So to some extent, we’re supporting a bill that will have every hospital closing.”

— Former congressman John Delaney, at a Democratic presidential candidate debate, Miami, June 26, 2019

In a crowded stage featuring many candidates who support Medicare-for-all, Delaney stood out with a doomsday prediction that it would force all hospitals to close.

Shifting the U.S. health-care industry to a single-payer system such as Medicare-for-all would be a huge endeavor, and it’s impossible to foresee every potential consequence. But we couldn’t find any expert or research study supporting the former Maryland congressman’s claim that Medicare-for-all would cause widespread hospital closures.

This is a good case study in how a snappy talking point can stray far from reality, especially when it comes to a complex policy issue such as health care. Let’s dig in.

View the complete July 3 article by Salvador Rizzo on The Washington Post website here.