Latest news with #JordanRasmusson
CBS News
27-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
The fight over giving undocumented Minnesotans health insurance
This is the first year Minnesota is providing undocumented workers with the state health insurance known as MinnesotaCare. Republicans at the State Capitol say they want to end the program, in large part because of the cost to taxpayers. But Democrats — as well as hospitals, doctors and nurses — are lobbying to keep the benefit. Republicans at a news conference this week said the numbers of undocumented residents signing up for state health care is way more than expected So far, 17,000 undocumented residents have signed up. The original projection was 5,700. And the estimated cost will be more than $600 million over four years — $400 million more than the original projected cost. State Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, was a guest on WCCO Sunday Morning at 10:30 a.m. "We have seen the number of illegal immigrant enrollees triple what the Democrats estimated back when they were looking at the program starting," Rasmusson said. "This is a program that unfortunately is incentivizing illegal immigrants to come here to Minnesota because of these benefits." But supporting health care for the undocumented are the influential Minnesota Hospital Association, the Minnesota Medical Association and the Minnesota Nurses Association. They argue undocumented residents pay $222 million in taxes each year, and having the undocumented insured means hospitals and doctors get reimbursed. It also means less undocumented residents will have to postpone medical care until it's an emergency. The law's author, Sen. Alice Mann, DFL-Edina, is also an ER physician. "To take care of someone who is ill is somethng that could have been taken care of two months ago than it is when they showed up in the emergency department. So the health care cost of treating something further down the line is much more expensive," Mann said. She also argues that the Republican numbers are inflated, and so far this year the undocumented have submitted $3.4 million in claims, with an estimated cost to taxpayers of $112 million over four years. With just over three weeks left in the session, and with Democrats in control of the Senate, Rasmusson's bill to eliminate funding for undocumented health care is unlikely to pass. But the debate over undocumented workers is certain to continue both in Minnesota and across the nation. You can watch WCCO Sunday Morning with Esme Murphy and Adam Del Rosso every Sunday at 6 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
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.
CBS News
18-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Minnesota Senate Republicans propose cutting $646 million from state budget
Republicans at the Minnesota Legislature say they want to save you money by cutting the budget and returning surpluses. State Senate Republicans on Monday announced a plan that involves $646 million in cuts they say need to be made during this year's budget negotiations. Some of their proposed cuts include $200 million for a proposed high-speed train line between Minneapolis and Duluth, called the Northern Light Express , $220 million in MnCare payments for undocumented noncitizens and $158 million in tax credits for people without a social security number. "What we heard loud and clear this last election, what we're hearing from our constituents, is that they want to ensure that taxpayer dollars are going to Minnesota families and not incentivizing illegal behavior and illegal immigration here in the state of Minnesota," State Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, said. The Minnesota House, which returned to a rare 67-67 tie on Monday , rejected a bill that would have put a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would mandate any budget surplus be put in a special fund and sent back to taxpayers. State House members voted along party lines on the bill, which needed 68 votes to pass. The projected surplus for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 is $616 million. For 2028 and 2029, a budget deficit of $6 billion is projected.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Minnesota county officials criticize Walz's human services budget; warn of high property taxes
Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, and county leaders held a press conference on Feb. 19, 2025, to share how Gov. Walz's human services budget proposal will impact county budgets. Photo by Senate Media Services. Gov. Tim Walz's proposed health and human services budget would cut spending by about $1.3 billion over four years and would shift some costs to Minnesota's counties, causing property taxes to rise, some rural county officials said during a Capitol press conference Wednesday. Minnesota is spending more money than it's bringing in and faces a potential multi-billion dollar budget deficit beginning in 2027 if current trends continue. Walz last month proposed slowing increases on disability services, one of the major drivers of the state's escalating costs. Appearing with Senate Republicans, the county officials said the burden would fall to counties — and their taxpayers. 'Carlton County … calls on the governor to consider an alternative budget that does not shift the tax burden from the state to local governments, creating a disparate impact on more rural counties, especially,' said Carlton County Administrator Dennis Genereau. Minnesota's budget agency will come out with an updated budget forecast on March 6. Lawmakers will then work in earnest to draft a two-year budget and adopt or reject parts of Walz's budget proposal. Of particular concern for counties is Walz's proposal to establish a 5% county share for residential services paid through a state program known as disability waivers. Walz's budget estimates this will save the state about $400 million over the next four years. To cover the increased costs on the counties, they would need to raise property taxes, as many of the services are mandated by federal or state law and thus can't be cut. 'We really only have the one lever as the county to raise revenue, and that's the property tax levy. If anyone knows me, that's not my favorite thing to do,' said Dave Beer, chair of the Scott County Board of Commissioners. Walz's office didn't immediately respond to the Reformer's request for comment about the county officials' concerns. Sen. Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, said during the press conference that Walz's budget doesn't actually cut spending but merely shifts it away from the state. Rasmusson said the state should focus on other areas to save Minnesota money, like cutting MinnesotaCare and free college for noncitizens, though neither would produce anywhere near the $400 million Walz is looking to cut in this area. The total cost of the North Star Promise program, which provides free college to Minnesota residents from households with less than $80,000 in income, was estimated to be $50 million per year when it passed in 2023, according to nonpartisan House research staff. In fiscal year 2023, the MinnesotaCare program paid $676.5 million for medical services, but 91% was paid for by the federal government, according to House research. 'Those are the places that we need to look at prioritizing instead of just putting more and more of the burden on property taxpayers,' Rasmusson said.
