Cost of Healthcare for the Indigent is Falling Disproportionately on Hennepin County Taxpayers
We’ve heard a lot of talk over the past few months about the scheduled elimination of the General Assistance Medical Care (”GAMC”) program. GAMC is a state program providing health care coverage to the very poor in Minnesota who are not covered by other state or federal programs. GAMC served over 35,000 Minnesotans in 2009, many of them mentally ill, disabled or chemically dependent.
Governor Pawlenty unalotted GAMC last year after proposing reforms to the program that the legislature failed to consider. Funding for the program is scheduled to end on April 1, 2010.
The largest percentage of GAMC patients in Minnesota use Hennepin County Medical Center (”HCMC”) for their care. HCMC is a public safety-net hospital that is subsidized by the taxpayers of Hennepin County. If the Governor and legislature do not find a way to restore a part of GAMC funding this session, HCMC will receive about $43 million less in state funding in 2010 than it did in 2009.
The Hennepin County Board has already promised $18 million of taxpayer money from the 2010 property tax increase to fill part of that hole. HCMC plans changes in its service delivery and operations to fill another portion. There will still, however, be a gap. Read more…
Taxpayers fund “wet housing” for alcoholics where they’re allowed to continue drinking
Hennepin County (and government in general) spends a great deal of money on treatment programs for individuals addicted to drugs and alcohol. In my opinion, much of this money is well-spent.
I learned last week, however, of a housing program receiving Hennepin County funding that takes a unique (and I would argue ridiculous) approach to taxpayer-funded “treatment” for chronic alcoholics. The program is referred to as a “wet house” or “non-sober house” in which chronic inebriates are provided housing and other government services on a long-term basis - and are allowed to continue drinking!
Hennepin County’s wet house funding is receiving the newest Golden Fire Hydrant award. Read more…
We should all thank Pawlenty for axing the Political Contribution Refund program
Last month, Governor Pawlenty killed the Minnesota political contribution refund (”PCR”) program as part of his budget-balancing unallotment. Although I used that program quite effectively for six years as a candidate for both the Minnesota House and Attorney General, I’m happy to see it go.
Unfortunately, there are already groups attempting to revive this program in the upcoming legislative session.
The PCR law provided that every Minnesota taxpayer could give $50 to the state office-seeker or political party of his or her choice and be fully reimbursed by the state. All you had to do was write your check, mail in a receipt from the recipient of your contribution and you would soon receive a reimbursement check from the State of Minnesota. In other words, you chose who received a $50 contribution and the rest of Minnesota’s taxpayers would ante up for that choice. Read more…
