MN House Adds Amendments to Protect Patient Consent and Patient Privacy

Press Releases • March 12, 2004

With testimony from Citizens' Council on Health Care, two amendments to protect the privacy and informed consent rights of patients were added to the House Omnibus Data Practices Bill this afternoon in the Civil Law Committee.

Birth Defects Database: CCHC to testify against creating a state database of the disabled

Press Releases • March 09, 2004

Senator Sheila Kiscaden (I-Rochester) is bringing a birth defects information system proposal to the Senate Health and Family Security Committee for debate and deliberation this evening.

House Bill Pulled, but State Medical Practice Directives Remain

Press Releases • February 24, 2004

"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

Press Releases • February 05, 2004

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

Press Releases • January 06, 2004

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

Press Releases • December 29, 2003

"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

Press Releases • December 29, 2003

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

Press Releases • December 24, 2003

"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

Press Releases • December 23, 2003

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:

Press Releases • November 24, 2003

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.