Latest news with #IsaacSchultz
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Surprise enrollments heat up MN Care for undocumented immigrants battle
The Brief Legislators are battling over whether to continue budgeting for MN Care to include coverage for undocumented immigrants. Newly released statistics show more than 17,000 undocumented immigrants enrolled in the first three months. Nonpartisan legislative analysts expected about 7,800, so the cost is now more than doubled to upwards of $100 million a year. Republicans want to exclude undocumented immigrants and direct the money elsewhere. Democrats don't, and they have support from hospitals, religious organizations, labor unions, and insurers. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A battle is brewing in the legislature over funding healthcare for undocumented immigrants. Double the cost Newly released statistics show more than double the number of people have applied for MN Care than predicted last point to the direct cost of MN Care. It's about $450 million coming from taxpayers over four years. Democrats see savings on fewer emergency room visits, and they have support from groups that don't always see eye-to-eye. Unexpected enrollment Undocumented immigrants first got access to MN Care on Jan. 1, 2025. The DFL trifecta gave it to them knowing it could cost $50 million a year based on the estimated enrollment numbers from nonpartisan legislative analysts. They expected to insure about 7,800 undocumented immigrants. More than 17,000 signed up in the first three months. "We should not be surprised by this dramatic increase because this program creates an incentive for illegal immigrants to come here to Minnesota," said Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, (R-Fergus Falls). A spokesperson for the Department of Human Services told us "all MN Care enrollees must meet all other requirements for the program, including income and residency requirements. Enrollees are subject to monthly premiums based on their income." They say only 3.378 of the undocumented immigrants had any claims for healthcare services as of April 1. Minnesotans First House Republicans have proposed a bill, HF 10, to cut undocumented immigrants out of the system. At current enrollment levels, it could save the state more than $100 million a year – money they say could instead go to other parts of the healthcare ecosystem. "Let's prioritize Minnesotans first," said the bill's author, Rep. Isaac Schultz, (R-Elmdale Township). "And let's ensure that our budget is balanced here in Minnesota and that our priorities are with Minnesotans first." Costs and compassion Democrats oppose the change, and they have support from hospitals, religious organizations, labor unions, and insurers. They say spending on MN Care actually saves money by keeping people away from the ER. Hospital executives say they spent $460 million on charity care in 2023 alone. "When people are covered and they have access to care, they can seek preventative care as well as vaccinations, which improves public health," said Dan Endreson of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans. "Having insurance coverage also mitigates the delivery of uncompensated care especially for hospitals who have a duty to care for those who show up in their emergency rooms. Uncompensated Care is a significant driver or a significant contributor to health care costs which we're all paying for." The state's Catholic Church points to the words of the leader they lost Monday as guiding their opposition. "We welcome immigrants when convenient and also punish them when doing so is advantageous," said Jason Adkins, executive director of the Minnesota Catholic Conference. "They are, as Pope Francis has said, pawns on the chessboard of humanity." What's next There are no compromises on the table right now, but Catholic leaders may have offered one. They said, at the very least, the state should make sure all children get coverage.
CBS News
21-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Minnesota lawmakers debate over healthcare for undocumented residents
Applications for free state health care by undocumented Minnesota residents are exceeding expectations. Applications are three times higher than lawmakers expected in the first year. Some lawmakers are pushing back on the free state health care expansion. "This program creates an incentive for illegal immigrants to come to Minnesota," Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, said. in 2023, the Minnesota Department of Human Services projected 5,800 undocumented residents would apply at a cost to taxpayers of $220 million over four years. So far this year, 17,400 have applied, with an estimated 4-year cost of over $600 million — numbers Republicans say will keep growing. "This is the closest thing that you will ever see to treason, where taxpayer dollars are going to fund people who are here illegally," Rep. Isaac Schultz, R-Elmwood Township, said. This comes as some DFL lawmakers say that, to balance the budget, cuts will be needed to increase funding for state disability and nursing home programs. But DFL legislators say healthcare for the undocumented is not a handout. "What we did two years ago is make sure we add them to our health insurance coverage because we see a need for that. These folks contribute to our economy, they contribute to our society, they are taxpayers," Sen. Zaynab Mohamed, DFL-Minneapolis, said. DFL Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy warns that cutting undocumented care "does financial harm, costing people more in the form of increased premiums and uncompensated care. " With Democrats in control of the Senate and the House tied, it is highly unlikely that the Minnesota Legislature will roll back services for the undocumented, but Republicans are expected to keep bringing it up as they see it as a winning issue with their voters. Minnesota doctors and hospitals support health care for the undocumented, saying it keeps emergency room visits down. A bill to eliminate state benefits for the undocumented is under consideration at the Minnesota Legislature.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Wide-ranging opposition meets new MN Care priority for GOP lawmakers
The Brief Pushing undocumented immigrants out of MN Care is a top GOP priority for 2025, one of the first ten bills rolled out by House Republicans. Rep. Isaac Schultz says his bill would save taxpayers $50 million a year. Opponents include the Catholic Church, farmers, and medical professionals. Their opposition ranges from moral to financial, with hospital leaders saying this just pushes the cost from primary care to emergency care, which they have to provide whether they get paid or not. ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A top priority for Minnesota Republicans this year is to push undocumented immigrants out of the state health insurance system. GOP priority It was one of the first 10 bills from the House GOP, but it's running into an interesting coalition of opponents from all corners of the state. The sponsor says this bill can save Minnesota $50 million a year. But opponents include the Catholic Church, farmers, nurses, and doctors whose reasons range from moral to financial. 'Undocumented and expensive' Getting health insurance through Minnesota Care (MN Care) opened up to undocumented immigrants 48 days Isaac Schultz says it's already costing taxpayers money they can't afford. "People without lawful and legal status to be here have been signing up by the thousands, and it's quite possible that they're already beginning to overwhelm Minnesota Care while at the same time paying very low premiums or maybe not even paying premiums at all," said Rep. Isaac Schultz (R-Elmdale Township). How it's rolling out Since their eligibility is so new, the state doesn't know how many undocumented immigrants have applied for the low-cost insurance plan, but legislative analysts estimated fewer than 8,000 would sign up. Doctors and nurses say keeping them out comes with its own set of costs. "We do know that without coverage, however, fewer non-citizens will show up for primary care," said Mary Krinkie of the Minnesota Hospital Association. "At some point, however, they will likely need emergency room care." Hospitals have to treat everyone in the ER and Minnesota healthcare facilities spent $460 million on charity care in 2023 alone. Consequences of change? Medical professionals say shifting the burden from primary to emergency care will make rural hospitals more likely to close and ERs harder to access. So some of the bill's opponents say it's not about saving money at all. "It's about dividing us and as a distraction from the real issues that keep our families up at night," said Samantha Diaz of the SEIU. "Minnesotans are angry and feel the day-to-day impact of rising costs." The bill also prohibits undocumented immigrants from using any state-funded services, including the North Star Promise, which covers their college tuition if they graduated from high school here and are on the path to legal immigration status. That one cost the state $86,000 last year, according to Rep. Schultz.
