Staffing for Patient Safety
MNA lobbyists are meeting with legislators on a daily basis to move our campaign for patient safety forward. We continue to make progress toward our goal. Earlier this week, members of the MNA Government Affairs Committee visited the Capitol and met with legislators to talk about their experiences at the bedside and the need to ensure that every patient in Minnesota can get the nursing care they need. We will continue to bring you news about this campaign as it unfolds. In the meantime, use the MNA Grassroots Action Center to contact your state senator and representative and let them know how nurse staffing affects your patients.
Health Insurance Exchange
On Wednesday the bill creating a Minnesota Health Insurance Exchange – the virtual marketplace required by the Affordable care act to help Americans find affordable and high quality health insurance – passed its first committee hearing. As it is written, the bill would allow the Exchange to negotiate with insurers to get the most affordable coverage for Minnesotans, and would block insurance agents from serving on the board of the Exchange. These two points are an important step for health care consumers and advocates for affordable health care for working families.
Health Care for All
Meanwhile, Senator John Marty (DFL-Roseville) and Representative Carolyn Laine (DFL-Columbia Heights) introduced a bill to cover all Minnesotans with high-quality health care regardless of their income. The Minnesota Health Plan would reduce costs, improve coverage, cover all necessary health care, and allow patients to choose their own providers. While the debate about health care will be primarily focused on the establishment of the Health Insurance Exchange this session, our ultimate goal is still high-quality, affordable health care for all, and we applaud the introduction of this bill.
The Governor’s Budget
Governor Dayton will release his budget proposal on January 22. While we haven’t seen the details, we expect his budget to lay out a plan to address Minnesota’s structural deficit, while strengthening working families. Governor Dayton campaigned on a message of tax fairness, so we expect to see changes to the tax system that will make the system more fair for middle class Minnesotans, while requiring the wealthiest to pay their fair share. Once the Governor proposes his budget, the Legislature will take up the budget debate, which will be the dominant issue of this legislative session.
Day on the Hill – February 4-5
Patient safety is too important for you to sit this out. Patients depend on you in the hospital, and they’re depending on you at the Capitol. Nurses are the most trusted profession in the country, and when you speak up, legislators listen. If you don’t speak up, they will only hear the hospital administration side of the story.
MNA makes it easy for you to make your voice heard. MNA staff will make appointments for you with your legislators. You will get the tools you need to be an effective citizen lobbyist and the information you need to advocate for safe staffing legislation. You will meet with your legislator with a team and
a leader who knows the way around the Capitol.
February 4: Education Session and Dinner, 5:30 – 9:00 pm, Crowne Plaza Hotel, St. Paul. Invited speakers include Governor Mark Dayton.
February 5: Capitol visits and action begin at 8:00 am
Sign up by logging in to the Member Portal at www.mnnurses.org. If you have any questions, please speak to your facility’s MNA chair or contact Eileen Gavin at eileen.gavin@mnnurses.org or 651-414-2871.