House Bill Pulled, but State Medical Practice Directives Remain

"It is unclear why the bill was pulled, but we hope that our concerns about the legislature empowering the state to practice medicine are beginning to be recognized," said Twila Brase, president of the Citizens' Council on Health Care.

Governor Pawlenty's "Best Practices" Plan Based on Faulty Premise

Governor Tim Pawlenty's should reconsider his plan to 'force health care providers to use best practices,' according to the Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC)

CCHC Joins WCCO Radio for new "Patient's Perspective" Call-In Program

A new health care call-in program is coming to WCCO radio. "Patient's Perspective" will feature Twila Brase, president of the Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC).

MNCARE PROVIDER TAX GOES UP: Much of increase used to balance state budget

"The provider tax is a tax on patients. Patients pay through higher costs for care or less access to care. The provider tax has increased the cost of health care in Minnesota and made doctors less interested in coming to or staying in Minnesota," says Twila Brase, president of the Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC).

Much of increase used to balance state budget

Minnesota's tax on health care services will increase by 0.5 percent on January 1, 2004. More than $1.6 billion has been collected since the MinnesotaCare provider tax began in 1993.

THE HMO ACT TURNS 30 - few are expected to celebrate

"Congress turned the entire American health care system on its head hoping the HMO could solve the budget problems they created with Medicare. It didn't work, but patients everywhere have suffered as a result," says Twila Brase, president of the Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC).

MN Bioscience Council Letter to Governor Fails to Address Genetic Privacy Concerns

Yesterday's letter from the Minnesota Bioscience Council to Governor Tim Pawlenty failed to address the genetic privacy and patient consent issues surrounding the new Minnesota Partnership for Biotechnology and Human Genomics, says St. Paul-based Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC).

CCHC Requests Documents from the Mayo Clinic and University of Minnesota:

In preparation for Minnesota's 2004 legislative session in which Governor Tim Pawlenty's biotechnology initiative will be debated, Citizens' Council on Health Care sent letters today to the Mayo Clinic and the University of Minnesota Board of Regents requesting a copy of various policies and procedures related to genetic and medical research.

The Medicare Bill - A Good Idea or a Bad Idea?

"Much of the language in the bill is meant to expand government control over health care and increase the burden of taxes on generations to come," says Twila Brase, president of CCHC.

Minnesota DFL Senators Push Government-Health-Care-For-All Plan

The Minnesota Senate Health and Family Security Committee held an informational hearing today at the Minnesota State Capitol on two DFL bills that would require universal coverage in Minnesota. SF 339 by Senator Leo Foley (D-Coon Rapids) would establish a universal health care system. SF 979 by Senator John Marty (D-Roseville) would require the state health department to design a universal system and put it into place by 2010.