Liberal in the Land of Conservative

Senators to hold Community Listening Session in St. Cloud on Affordable Health Care for all Minnesotans

Senator Tarryl Clark along with Senator John Marty, chair of the Minnesota Senate Health and Housing Committee, will hold a community listening session on affordable health care on Monday, Jan. 7th, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud.

Senator Tarryl Clark encouraged Sen. Marty to come to St. Cloud as part of his effort to obtain public input on health care.

“I continue to hear repeatedly from Central Minnesotans about problems with the high cost of health care. It is not only seniors struggling about whether to take care of their medical needs or pay for food or housing. It is also many employers struggling to provide affordable health care coverage to their employees and working parents trying to pay increasingly higher costs for themselves and their children."

"In addition to those who do not have coverage, I hear a lot from people who have coverage, but are being hit with high deductibles and co-payments, hassles with pre-approval for medical procedures, denial of coverage, and a whole host of billing and bureaucratic nightmares,” said Clark. “Medical providers face similar issues dealing with HMOs, insurers and other third-party payer requirements.”

“We invite business owners, community members and families with and without health insurance to talk about the impact that health care costs and lack of access to affordable health care is having on their lives,” said Senator Marty.

“Minnesotans want a health care system that doesn’t threaten the financial security of their families. Working together we can create a strong, prosperous, and united Minnesota,” Clark said.

People interested in testifying may contact Senator Tarryl Clark’s office at 651-296-6455 or simply show up at the hearing.