Watch the Video below for the latest developments:
Background: In late 2010, KSTP-TV Investigative Reporter Jay Kolls broke a story featuring former Minnesota Hospital Association Attorney Dave Feinwachs. Dave was fired by the MHA after calling attention to the fact that Department of Human Services officials under Governor Tim Pawlenty’s administration have been looking the other way while non-profit HMO Executives raked in nearly $3 BILLION in taxpayer dollars per budget cycle for services they cannot prove they provided. Worse yet, there are no records or documents that can be produced for public review.
Nurses and taxpayers want to know: With the state of Minnesota facing a budget deficit of over $5 Billion, can Minnesota taxpayers afford to be handing over billions of dollars to HMO’s with zero accountability or transparency in return?
UPDATE: On March 23, 2011, Gov. Mark Dayton signed an Executive Order demanding more transparency and clarity from the HMOs in reporting the profits they are making from providing state health care services.
Learn more:
- Read the March 23 MPR story - "Dayton orders more transparency from health plans"
- Watch the complete report from KSTP-TV's Jay Kolls.
- Read the March 19 Star Tribune Editorial - "UCare Donation Raises Questions"
- Read the March 17 Pioneer Press story on UCare's donation
- Watch the follow-up report from KSTP-TV's Jay Kolls on the secret memo HMOs put together detailing their controversial plans for the PMAPs.
- Read State Sen. John Marty's thoughts on the issue from a Legislative perspective and his plans to investigate the issue.
- Read Dave Feinwachs' story in MinnPost regarding the issue and its alarming lack of transparency.
- Read Doug Grow's column - "Joint Minnesota Health Care Report Has Something to Irk Just About Everybody."
- Read the Politics in Minnesota piece "Picking the Lock on HMOs 'Black Box'."
- Watch the Feb. 8 press conference featuring MNA President Linda Hamilton, RN, and other concerned healthcare advocates.
- Watch the Feb. 8 news coverage - "Lawmakers Grill HMOs Over $3 Billion in Taxpayer Money"
ADDITIONAL VIDEOS
Watch David Feinwachs' detailed, 30-minute explanation and analysis of the issue:
Watch this Video for previous news stories and a brief summary of the entire issue: