Press Releases
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March 13, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.— With the pending Supreme Court hearing on health care taking place in two weeks, much will be uncovered about Obamacare. President Obama and others compare the health insurance exchanges to the functionality of online airline bookings. Exchanges have been billed as online “marketplaces” where consumers can shop for the “best deal and the smartest health insurance plan.” These health insurance exchanges seem harmless on the surface. Federal officials are even offering to let each state create their own exchange, giving the impression that states will have control over the process.
Press Releases
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February 29, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.— Amicus briefs filed with the Supreme Court regarding the controversial federal healthcare law—the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare—are very telling in regards to how the public and patient advocates feel about the plan.
Press Releases
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February 22, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.—Twila Brase, president and co-founder of Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF), a patient-centered national health policy organization based in St. Paul, Minn., was recently honored by the Wisconsin State Senate for her work to protect patient rights.
Press Releases
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February 21, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.— A week after the Obama Administration seemingly “compromised” on the birth control mandate that created a nationwide religious liberty debate, Americans around the country are sending the message loud and clear that the issue is not one of contraception—but of conscience.
Press Releases
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February 20, 2012
On December 16, 2011, the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight released the Essential Health Benefits Bulletin (Bulletin) that discusses how to define the essential health benefits package pursuant to section 1302(b) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). In providing this early guidance, the Secretary is opening a dialogue with states, consumers, and other stakeholders on the important issue of defining the Essential Health Benefits (EHB). We appreciate the opportunity to provide comments in response to the initial direction proposed in the Bulletin and look forward to a more thorough regulatory notice and comment process to finalize the EHB. Click to read letter.
Press Releases
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February 20, 2012
On February 16, 2012, Minnesota Rep. Joe Atkins (D-Inver Grove Heights) held a press conference to discuss the “Minnesota Insurance Marketplace Act” – HF 2290. There are 17 co-authors including three GOP House members: Tax Chairman Greg Davids (R-Preston), Health and Human Services Finance Chairman Jim Abeler (R-Anoka), and Commerce and Regulatory Reform Chairman Joe Hoppe (R- Chaska). The Senate bill, SF 1872, is authored by Sen. Tony Lourey and has no GOP co-authors.
Even though the words “exchange,” “health insurance exchange” and “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” are not used, the bill proposes to create Obama’s exchange using the language of “marketplace.” One study by Herndon Alliance published last year reported that “marketplace” was a good word to use to discuss the exchange, especially with “anti-government/anti-health law” folks.
Press Releases
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February 16, 2012
"We are disappointed to see state legislators introduce a bill to implement Obamacare's federal command and control center in the state of Minnesota. We are further disappointed with the extraordinary attempt of these legislators to disguise the federally-controlled health insurance exchange within the legislation. The word "exchange" is not even mentioned in the bill. The entire bill discusses a "marketplace" established by the government."
Press Releases
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February 14, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.— In a briefing yesterday CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner said $864 million of the $1 billion increase that President Obama is seeking in the CMS budget will used for building a federal health insurance exchange. The federal exchange will be imposed on states that refuse to build an exchange using state law.
Press Releases
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February 07, 2012
St. Paul, Minn.—Last week, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the CLASS Act—Community Living and Assistance Services and Support—a program that was meant to offer voluntary long-term care insurance to Americans over 18. But it’s just not working, and President Obama won’t let it die.
Press Releases
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January 31, 2012
St. Paul/Minneapolis—Today, the Minnesota Department of Health issued a press release on their plan to begin destroying baby DNA as required by the Minnesota Supreme Court. Twila Brase, president of Citizens' Council for Health Freedom, provides the following comments:
"As opposed to Commissioner Ehlinger's quote, the newborn residual bloodspots are not a 'valuable public health resource,' they are the DNA of every newborn citizen, which the Department has been claiming as theirs. They've been storing, using, and sharing them for research without the consent of parents. It would be illegal for the State to collect and store the DNA of adults, but they have been doing it to up-and-coming adults, in other words, newborns, without authority and in violation of state law for years..."
