Last week, The Arc Minnesota Executive Director Andrea Zuber and Senior Advocate Gene Martinez joined nearly 100 members of This Is Medicaid for an event featuring Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan! Participants discussed the critical importance of maintaining the provider tax, which is a high priority for Minnesota’s disability community.
The 2% provider tax on health care services is the main source of funding for the Health Care Access Fund, which contributes nearly $450 million to Medical Assistance in Minnesota.
The provider tax is scheduled to expire or “sunset” at the end of 2019, which would leave a hole of more than $900 million in our state budget – placing health & human services and education funding at risk.
The Governor and Lt. Governor have been key allies in protecting this key source of funding, but unfortunately, negotiations with legislative leadership have since stalled.
That’s why we need YOUR help to make sure elected officials continue the provider tax and maintain the promise of high quality healthcare for Minnesotans statewide!
Here’s what you can do:
Call or email your State Senator and express your support for the Provider Tax. Share a brief personal story about the importance of quality healthcare and Medical Assistance services or use this script: Hello, my name is ____________ and I live in ____________. I’m concerned about the impact for people with disabilities if the Health Care Access Fund is not sufficiently funded. Please commit to protecting health care by not letting the sunset on the provider tax. Thank you.
Not sure who represents you? Just enter your address into this Legislative District Finder, which will provide contact information for your State Senator.
With questions or for more information about the provider tax, Health Care Access Fund, and importance to the disability community, please contact Gene Martinez at genemartinez@arcminnesota.org.
Thank you for your advocacy on this critical issue!