Since 2017, we’ve worked alongside advocates from across Minnesota to protect the promise of Medicaid — from protecting Minnesotans’ affordable health care through the Affordable Care Act to defeating harmful work reporting requirements that would have taken health care from Minnesotans, to preserving vital funding for the one million of us who receive health care from Medical Assistance.
- 2021: Recent Advocacy Letters:
- Request for transparency as work continues after session: As the 2021 session came to an end without the passing of a final Health & Human Services Omnibus bill, advocates had questions regarding what the work would look like leading up to a special session in June. Concerned that the public would have difficulty staying informed as final deliberations took place between legislators, TIM collaborated with other healthcare advocates to draft and circulate a sign-on letter requesting transparency during this time. The letter was a success- 23 organizations signed on, and the HHS Conference Committee was the only committee with a public hearing on the calendar during this week of deliberations.
- Health and Human Services Omnibus Bill Proposals: TIM thanked HHS Committee Chairs Abeler, Benson, Liebling, and Schultz for including provisions in their omnibus bill proposals that support Minnesota’s Medicaid community. In addition to prioritizing the preservation of the core components of MA, omnibus bill proposals included investing in Minnesota’s PCA workforce, extending postpartum MA, and periodontal coverage for adults. Additionally, TIM asked committee chairs to reconsider concerning proposals, and to keep things such as telehealth, recuperative care for people experiencing homelessness, and housing stabilization in mind for the rest of session.
- Governor’s Supplemental Budget: In response to Governor Walz’s supplemental budget, TIM sent a letter outlining opportunities to continue improving and protecting Medicaid, even when facing an anticipated budget deficit.
- 2021: Also on our radar:
- COVID-19 Waivers: TIM will be an active participant in the debates surrounding what changes related to Medical Assistance during COVID-19 should be continued. These include but are not limited to access to telehealth services and recertification timelines.
- This Is Medicaid closely followed The Blue Ribbon Commission on Health and Human Services created to identify and prioritize strategies that would result in greater efficiencies, savings, and better outcomes for Minnesotans. This Is Medicaid organized community engagement and provided stakeholder input on prioritized strategies that would advance healthy equity and would not reduce access to Medicaid supports and services.
- 2020: COVID-19 Efforts and Responses: During the COVID-19 pandemic, This Is Medicaid lifted up the importance of telehealth and worked to ensure Medicaid providers and programs had access to the financial resources they needed in the form of the CARES Act Provider Relief Fund and increased Federal Medical Assistance Payments (FMAP).
- 2019: Provider Tax – Minnesota’s Provider Tax has been a significant revenue source for MN’s public healthcare programs since 1992. This is Medicaid led a joyful campaign to repeal a sunset provision on this essential funding source. (Governor Walz Video)
- 2018: Public Charge, Work Requirements
- Public Charge – The health of our neighbors impacts our own heath. TIM worked with partners to organize a vocal opposition to Public Charge rule changes which seek to deny non-citizen immigrants access to Medicaid and other programs which help them thrive.
- Work Requirements – This is Medicaid led the charge to beat back efforts to establish harmful and ineffective administrative burdens on Minnesotans covered by Medicaid. (Editorial about highlighting TIM’s work)
- 2017: ACA Repeal/Replace [include link to MBP ACA brief]
- This Is Medicaid formed around the threat of the loss of eligibility for Minnesotans who gained access to Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act. TIM organized events to educate the public on the impact of Medicaid, organized letters to MN’s congressional delegation and phone banks to sustain Medicaid. (Arne Video)
