Despite of the receipt of federal funding to assist in the set-up of an insurance exchange program, the Minnesota legislature is not cooperating with the Governor Drayton's plans to design a program. Instead, in a classic example of partisan politics, the legislature is going forward with its own plans to design an exchange program. In doing so, the legislature is placing the State of Minnesota in a position of possibly losing the grant provided by the federal government. According to the grant provisions, the state must show it can operate an effective exchange program by the end of calendar year 2012 or the federal government under the terms of ACA will impose a one size fits all exchange on the state. Even the state's most conservative political groups oppose this happening and advocate that the state's executive and legislative branches cooperate in formulating an acceptable state exchange program.
The effect of this political wrangling has created a feeling of uncertainty regarding health care in the State of Minnesota. Although the state has been aggressive in its attempts to address health care concerns, the affective result has not been much different than the rest of the nation. In Minnesota, a significant percentage of Minnesotans lack health insurance coverage; a significant number of individuals have no access to medical treatment; and the entire population must face spiraling health care costs. These problems compound each other. As medical care becomes more expensive, obtaining health insurance becomes less affordable. The dilemma is that covering everyone will increase costs for taxpayers and people who already have coverage. Herein, is the problem that confronts the health care situation in Minnesota and elsewhere.
On a daily basis, the present health care situation does not affect most health professionals. Patients still need treatment and for most health care professionals that is their only concern. Unfortunately, the larger picture demands radical change.
The log jam that has developed in the State of Minnesota regarding health insurance and the availability of health care services is not unlike the situation that presently exists on...
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