Senate Democrats today passed a bipartisan Health and Human Services omnibus budget that implements controversial mandates, reduces quality of care, and increases government spending. The bill would cost $46.37 million in FY24-25 and $36.58 million in FY26-27. This additional spending comes just one year after the previous HHS budget, which spent an unprecedented $6.1 billion and $6.6 billion in FY24-25 and FY26-27, respectively.
“Health care must be affordable, reliable, and accessible, but today's bill continues the worrying trends of last year, increasing obligations and restricting individual freedoms. , medical costs are rising.” said Sen. Paul Attke (R-Park Rapids), Republican chairman of the Health and Human Services Committee. “Instead of looking at ways to improve affordability and quality of care, Democrats are giving child care providers the power to mandate vaccinations for children as young as 2 months old, covering abortion services and radical gender.” -Introduced a bill that would make insurance mandatory.The bill also takes the troubling step of eliminating language that would allow for-profit HMOs to operate in Minnesota. There are many alarming details that will only drive up health care costs in Minnesota.”
Perhaps one of the most problematic parts of the bill is requiring insurance to cover both abortion services and gender-affirming care. Gender-affirming care is defined as any care that includes medical, surgical, counseling, or referral services. However, this section does not discuss detransition care. Carve-outs exist for organizations with “religious objections” to these coverages, but they involve a lengthy process that increases burdens for both organizations and health insurers, and likely increases costs for insurance plans. It's going to happen.
An additional controversial section requires licensed child care centers and family child care providers to enroll or continue to enroll children over 2 months of age in their current child care program if they have not been vaccinated. It has stated that it may adopt a policy of banning the use of such services. This is an unprecedented attack on parents' freedom to make medical decisions for their children in consultation with medical professionals. This provision of the bill, if passed, would allow child care providers to decide on vaccination schedules, but this is a highly personal decision that should be made between parents and doctors.
One notable exclusion is government-run health plans. After strong feedback from numerous stakeholders, caregivers, and patients, Senate Republicans succeeded in removing this provision from the bill in its final committee.
“I’m glad we were able to stop this controversial measure.”” Utke said. “Minnesota not only cannot afford to do this, but it is impractical because it would leave so many gaps in our health care system. This was removed from this year's bill, but Minnesotans believe that Democrats can't afford to do this. You should know that we will continue to push this controversial issue.”
Republicans have proposed key amendments to the bill that would make gender reassignment care, abortion and abortion-related care, and child immunizations for child care providers all optional, rather than required, as the bill proposes. Many were submitted. These amendments were not accepted.
The bill passed the Senate floor on a party-line vote of 34-31.
