synapse collapse

Erica writes up all the good times at an interesting forum on the Minnesota Health Plan, proposing a single-payer system.

From the campaign for the Minnesota Health Plan:

The Minnesota Health Act is driven by the need for solutions that work and not by ideology. The solutions are based on over-arching principles of health care reform.

In order to develop a plan that keeps Minnesotans healthy and provides the best quality of health care, the Minnesota Health Care Plan will:

1. ensure all Minnesotans receive high quality health care, regardless of their income;

2. not restrict, delay, or deny care or reduce the quality of care to hold down costs, but instead reduce costs through prevention, efficiency, and reduction of bureaucracy;

3. cover all necessary care, including all coverage currently required by law, complete mental health services, chemical dependency treatment, prescription drugs, medical equipment and supplies, dental care, long-term care, and home care services;

4. allow patients to choose their own providers;

5. be funded through premiums and other payments based on the person’s ability to pay, so as not to deny full access to any Minnesota resident;

6. focus on preventive care and early intervention to improve the health of all Minnesota residents and reduce costs from untreated illnesses and diseases;

7. ensure an adequate number of qualified health care professionals and facilities to guarantee availability of, and timely access to quality care throughout the state;

8. continue Minnesota’s leadership in medical education, training, research, and technology; and

9. provide adequate and timely payments to providers.