MNA RNs and the (nearly) $4 Billion Question (Page 111)

MNA President Linda Hamilton has helped lead the charge for answers to the (nearly) $4 Billion Question that health care whistleblower David Feinwachs began asking in late 2010.

Concerned about whether billions in Minnesota taxpayer funds were actually being used for direct patient care, MNA RN leaders including President Linda Hamilton began pushing in early 2011 for what has now become a federal investigation of the state’s financial dealings with non-profit HMOs. With the story continuing to evolve, we’ve compiled this post to help chronicle the history of the issue and MNA’s role in it.

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 insinuating that Department of Human Services officials under Governor Tim Pawlenty’s administration had been looking the other way while non-profit HMO Executives raked in nearly $4 billion in taxpayer dollars per budget cycle for services they could not prove they provided. Worse yet, there were no records or documents that could be produced for public review. 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.

2011 Archives

ADDITIONAL VIDEOS

The original “HMO Black Box” video that started it all:

[vimeo=17156418]

A Summary of 2011 TV News Coverage:

[youtube=http://youtu.be/jav-Jnh9Qcg]

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Concerned about whether billions in Minnesota taxpayer funds were actually being used for direct patient care, MNA RN leaders including President Linda Hamilton began pushing in early 2011 for what has now become a federal investigation of the state’s financial dealings with non-profit HMOs. With the story continuing to evolve, we’ve compiled this post to help chronicle the history of the issue and MNA’s role in it.

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 insinuating that Department of Human Services officials under Governor Tim Pawlenty’s administration had been looking the other way while non-profit HMO Executives raked in nearly $4 billion in taxpayer dollars per budget cycle for services they could not prove they provided.
… Read more about: MNA RNs and the (nearly) $4 Billion Question  »

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Update May 10, 2012:  The House adjourned for the session in the wee hours of this morning, WITHOUT taking a final vote on the National Nurse Licensure Compact. That means it’s dead for this year. It will most likely come back next session, so stay tuned, but for now, be proud of all the calls, emails, letters and visits that nurses made to stop this dangerous bill!

This troubling story (published by Pro Publica and USA Today) provides yet another reminder why we need your help in opposing the National Nurse Licensure Compact bill moving through the state legislature.
… Read more about: Nurse Licensure Compact Legislation  »

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The AFL-CIO is presenting a 3 day Organizing Institute in Minnesota on June 8, 9, 10, 2012. The purpose of this training is to equip union member activists and union member organizers with basic organizing skills. AFL-CIO Organizing Department staff will be leading the training.

Here are the details.

Please note the sponsorship forms are due by May 12!
In addition, the MN AFL-CIO will be hosting an Organizers Roundtable on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 10 AM at the Minnesota AFL-CIO (175 Aurora Ave., St. Paul 55103).

… Read more about: Mark Your Calendar! AFL-CIO Organizing Institute Coming Up  »

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National Nurse Licensure Compact
The Compact is still moving on two different tracks. 1) A stand-alone bill is moving in both bodies, and passed a key committee in the House on Wednesday and passed the full Senate on Thursday. We anticipate it will be up for a full floor vote in the House very soon.  2) The Compact is also part of the Senate version of the Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill.

The Omnibus bill is currently in conference committee, where legislators are working out the differences between the two versions. As the conference committee wraps up its work, we are hopeful that the Compact will be removed from the HHS omnibus bill.
… Read more about: Legislative Update, April 20, 2012  »

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Some nice recognition in MinnPost this week of the key work MNA RNs and other health care workers did behind the scenes to help this important legislation pass!

Here’s the item: 

Intentional abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult can be charged as a felony in Minnesota, now that Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill passed with bipartisan support.

Previously, such crimes often perpetrated against elderly victims were treated at most as gross misdemeanors with no prison time.

With all the highly charged partisan activity abounding in this year’s session, the governor made a big point of stressing that both Republicans and DFLers voted for the bill, and he appeared with a bipartisan group at the official signing.
… Read more about: MinnPost Gives Nod to MNA Nurses’ Efforts  »

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In celebration of labor history month, the Untold Stories series presents programs and talks on both local and national labor history topics.

Untold Stories is coordinated by The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library and all events are free and open to the public.

For a complete listing of Untold Stories events please click here.

Upcoming Untold Stories events include:

David Bacon: Illegal People
Thursday, April 12, 7 pm
Macalester College, Weyerhaeuser Chapel, 1600 Grand Avenue

Writer and photojournalist David Bacon returns to the Untold Stories series with a talk on his new book Illegal People: How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants.
… Read more about: Labor History on Display!  »

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MNA member Mary Kirsling wrote to her representative about her opposition to National Nurse Licensure.  Here’s why it is important to be alert and involved – we get results that mean the world to our patients!

A Note from Mary Kirsling:  “It is gratifying to have one’s representatives read and respond. And if anyone thinks that these emails lack power, I think the responses tell otherwise…

On Mon, 4/2/12, Kerry Gauthier <rep.kerry.gauthier@house.mn> wrote:

From: Kerry Gauthier <rep.kerry.gauthier@house.mn>
Subject: Re: national nurse licensure
Date: Monday, April 2, 2012, 9:50 AM

Thank you for contacting me to share your opposition to Minnesota’s participation in the Nurse Licensure Compact, which was proposed in 2011 with the introduction of House File 462.
… Read more about: MNA RN Voices Make a Difference on Nurse Licensure Compact  »

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Note:  The Legislature is tentatively planning to adjourn today (April 5)  for a short spring recess

HMO Accountability
Great news! The four Healthcare Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) have returned $73 million dollars in excess profits to the taxpayers. Nurses played an integral part in holding HMOs accountable and advocating for further transparency. Please follow the link below to find out more information.

http://mnablog.com/2012/04/03/mna-rns-have-helped-lead-charge-in-holding-hmos-accountable/

National Nurse Licensure Compact
In addition to being part of the Senate HHS Omnibus bill, the National Nurse Licensure Compact is moving as stand-alone bills in the Senate and House (SF230-Gerlach/HF462-Norton).
… Read more about: Legislative Update, April 5, 2012  »

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: John Nemo, MNA, 651-414-2863 or john.nemo@mnnurses.org

WILLMAR, Minnesota (April 3, 2012) – In an effort to clear up confusion surrounding the status of the Willmar Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment facility, the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) announced today that a pair of legislative bills it helped introduce appear likely to extend the closure date of the facility by another year.

MNA, which represents more than 20,000 nurses in Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota, including RNs at the Willmar facility, has been working closely with AFSCME Council 5, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE) and local legislators Rep.
… Read more about: Press Release: MNA RNs fight to keep Willmar Intensive Rehabilitation Treatment Facility open  »