Governor's budget first step to fixing state health care

The governor's budget released on Tuesday has the progress and vision Minnesotans in St. Cloud deserve.

When I was an infant, I was diagnosed with common variable immune deficiency. I was put on TEFRA, Medical Assistance for children with disabilities. And when I turned 19, I was eligible for general Medical Assistance. The care was lifesaving for me as an infant, and as I got older, it has helped me afford treatment for fibromyalgia, asthma and my mental health. I would struggle to afford treatment otherwise.

The health care provider tax funds the Health Care Access Fund, which in the past has funded MinnesotaCare and currently funds Medical Assistance and other health services. If the health care provider tax is repealed, one million Minnesotans could be at risk of losing their health insurance; Minnesotans like me, who rely on state-funded health care to stay alive.

Walz is putting Minnesota values into practice by proposing a budget that not only repeals the sunset of the provider tax, but also provides a vision for ONECare and a pathway to accessible, affordable health care for all Minnesotans. We called for progress in our health care system. The governor's budget answered.