Sens. Franken, Klobuchar, Reps. McCollum, Peterson, & Ellison Band Together to Help Minnesota Families Keep Their Home Healthcare Services

Statement

Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, along with Reps. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), and Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) introduced a new federal measure to protect couples and families in Minnesota whose home health care services are being threatened.

In Minnesota, families under 65 years old who are affected by a catastrophic health event--for instance, if a husband or wife faces a spinal cord injury or a progressive, degenerative disease like Multiple Sclerosis--are eligible to receive essential health services through Medicaid. Given the unique needs of this population, the state has allowed these families-who are often younger, working, and may have children at home--to access services while keeping their hard-earned financial assets to save for college or pay their mortgage.

But unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is imposing federal requirements that will result in serious unintended consequences for these families. That is, in order to keep their savings and to also continue receiving critical healthcare services, nearly 500 Minnesota families may be forced to split up their assets by getting an unwanted divorce. To prevent families from having to make this devastating choice, Congressional lawmakers introduced new legislation today to ensure that Minnesotans maintain access to vital health services.

"Younger families in Minnesota who have faced a catastrophic health crisis should be able to continue living their lives--saving for their kids' college or paying for their houses-without the threat of losing critical long-term home healthcare services or even getting divorced," said Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Health Committee. "I will continue to work with the Obama Administration and my colleagues to change these requirements so that Minnesotans don't have to upend their families or their lives to keep their healthcare."

"No Minnesota couple should have to choose between their hard-earned savings or their marriage in order to maintain the care their disabled spouse needs to live a healthy and happy life," said Sen. Klobuchar. "This bill would ensure that Minnesota families will never have to make this choice, and that they will be able to keep the same health care protections that they currently have."

"Minnesotans who suffer a catastrophic health event leaving them severely disabled should be able to access the health services they need without their family worrying about its finances," said Rep. McCollum. "This bill will ensure Minnesota can continue to put the needs of these families first and ensure they receive important home and community based services."

"This legislation will help protect the safeguards Minnesota has in place to assist families impacted by health crises," said Rep. Peterson. "It is important that our working families have the opportunity to pursue both a livelihood and long-term health services."

"Minnesota families who are dealing with a health crisis should not have to worry about their futures and financial stability," said Rep. Ellison. "This legislation will protect families and ensure Minnesotans get the health care they need."

The measure is supported by ALS Association Minnesota, The Arc Minnesota, Lutheran Social Service, Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Minnesota Disability Law Center, and National MS Society.