National Health Systems

Impact of Obama’s Re-election on Implementation of the ACA

MN Hearing on Obamacare Exchange Grant - Partial Transcript

Minnesota is one 5 states furthest along in creating the exchange -- the federal takeover centers -- and could be number one, according to Minnesota state Rep. Steve Gottwalt (R) yesterday in a hearing on accepting federal exchange funding. Is Minnesota building the prototype for the nation -- all under Governor Mark Dayton's executive order? And what could that mean? One interesting fact, as pointed out by Gottwalt, is that Maximus, Inc, the exchange contractor, helped set up the single-payer system in two Canadian provinces. This document contains key statements at the hearing regarding Governor Dayton's authority to "go it alone."

MN's System Reform Was Once Considered "Communism"

WALTER MCCLURE, who worked with Paul Ellwood to create the HMO, was interviewed in August 2012. Minnesota's health care system is close to where he wants health care to be with outside analysis of patients and doctors. From the Interview: "When [McClure's] team started on [cost and quality] assessment in the 1980's, the idea that someone would be looking over a physician's shoulder was considered communism. Physicians were convinced of their right to autonomy. However, by 2008 Minnesota's private and voluntary sector had accomplished a sea change in this culture with 85 percent of providers in the state participating in having their outcomes measured." [our emphasis]

CCHF: Exchange Data Sharing Promotes Major Privacy Intrusions

ST. PAUL, Minn. – KEY FACTS:
•    Minnesota currently leads state health insurance exchange implementation with its recently signed, $41 million contract with Maximus, Inc.
•    Contract details follow federal regulations and provide a glimpse at what information must be shared based on the law.
•    Information shared with federal agencies by state health insurance exchanges based on the Enroll UX 2014 initiative is intrusive and compromises patient privacy.

Exhibit D - Data Sharing Contract for MN Exchange

The $41 million contract between Maximus, Inc. and the State of Minnesota for the development of an ACA-compliant health insurance exchange includes several exhibits. EXHIBIT D is focused on data-sharing. The data to be shared by the State with the corporation is extensive. Maximus will create an Exchange that allows individual data to be shared with at least five federal agencies through the "federal data services hub."

National Patient ID

After a 1998 federal hearing caused a public outcry, Congress prohibited the use of federal dollars to create the unique patient identifier (UPI). However, the law has not been repealed, and in response to new 2009 federal funding to establish a nationwide health information network (NHIN), government agencies, corporations, organizations and the health IT industry have banded together anew to advance a national patient ID card.

DIAGRAM of Health Insurance Exchange & Data-Sharing

A diagram from South Dakota's administration showing one idea of how the exchange works, including data sharing with the federal government.

CCHF Opposes Proposed Health Insurance Exchange Regulation

In general, CCHF is opposed to the proposed exchange regulation, which requires States to set up a federal structure by which the federal government will control virtually all facets of health care nationwide (coverage and care). We conclude our public comments by asking HHS to withdraw the entire rule.

Health Care Reform - 10 Things Patients & Doctors Need to Know

Informational brochure on the impact of Obamacare on patient privacy.

Will MN Task Force Support Obamacare or Freedom?

(St. Paul/Minneapolis) - Today, in anticipation of tomorrow's first meeting of the task force, and after researching the members of the newly appointed Minnesota Health Care Reform Task Force, Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC) releases a document containing statements and positions of members that may indicate support for ObamaCare or conflict with health freedom.