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♪
>> THE 2014 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION IS UNDER WAY AND
LAWMAKERS FAST TRACK EMERGENCY
ENERGY FUNDS.
DETAILS IN "CAPITOL REPORT."
♪
>> HELLO, EVERYBODY, AND
WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S
"CAPITOL REPORT."
I'M JULIE BARTKEY.
THE GAVEL DROPPED AT NOON ON
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25th,
SIGNALING THE 88th
LEGISLATURE HAS RECONVENED.
THE HOUSE SUSPENDED ITS RULES
ON THE FIRST DAY AND TOOK UP A
BILL THAT WOULD TAKE $20
MILLION IN GENERAL FUND MONEY
TO HELP LOW-INCOME MINNESOTANS
PAY FOR THEIR ENERGY BILLS.
SENATOR TOM SAXHAUG IS
CARRYING THE BILL IN THE
SENATE.
HE'S HERE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT IT.
SENATOR, THANKS FOR JOINING US
TODAY.
>> YEAH, THANK YOU, JULIE.
>> HOW DOES YOUR PROPOSAL FOR
ENERGY HEAT ASSISTANCE, HOW
DOES THAT VARY FROM THE HOUSE
BILL?
>> THE ONLY REAL DIFFERENCE IS
THE SENATE BILL AS IT CAME OUT
OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ADDED
5% FOR ADMINISTRATION.
THE CURRENT BILL CAME OUT OF
THE HOUSE, I THINK, AT 1.7
MILLION.
>> AND JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY
SEEMS TO BE ON BOARD WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
HOWEVER, THERE TEND TO BE SOME
DISCUSSIONS, BOTH IN THE HOUSE
AND IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON
SOME OF THE BIGGER PROBLEMS.
FOR INSTANCE, HOW TO MAYBE
MOVE PEOPLE AWAY FROM PROPANE
AS A DEPENDABLE SOURCE OF HEAT
AND HOW TO MAYBE HAVE A MORE
STABLE SOURCE OF PROPANE
AVAILABLE.
DO YOU THINK THAT THIS PIECE
OF LEGISLATION SHOULD ADDRESS
THOSE BIGGER CONCERNS?
>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE THAT IT
CAN, BUT WHAT IT CAN DO IS
BRING TO MIND AND BRING TO THE
FOREFRONT WHAT SOME OF OUR
BASIC PROBLEMS ARE BECAUSE IF
WE HAVE ANY KIND OF A SEVERE
WINTER NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING
TO END UP WITH EXACTLY THE
SAME PROBLEMS.
I THINK IT WOULD BE -- IT
WOULD BE WORTHWHILE FOR US
TO -- FOR ME TO JUST GO TO
MAYBE THE -- GO OVER THE
THREE, FOUR, FIVE DIFFERENT
REASONS WHY WE GOT IN THIS
POSITION THAT WE DID.
THE FIRST ONE WAS THE FACT
THAT WE HAD THIS LATE HARVEST
AND, SO, A LOT OF THE PROPANE
THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN USED
EARLIER ON THE FARMS GOT USED
A LITTLE BIT LATER AND THAT
WAS -- THAT WAS IMPORTANT.
ANOTHER THING IS THAT THE
PROPANE COMPANIES HAVE DECIDED
THAT THERE'S MORE OPPORTUNITY
IN EXPORTING THEIR PRODUCT
THAN IN LEAVING IT IN A
DOMESTIC BASIS.
SO, WHEREAS, 5% OF THE PROPANE
LAST YEAR WAS EXPORTED, WE
WERE UP TO 20% THIS YEAR.
SO, THAT LOWERED THE SUPPLY.
THEN WHAT HAPPENED, OF COURSE,
IS WE HAD THIS -- AND ARE
CONTINUING TO HAVE THIS
HORRENDOUS WINTER WITH COLD
TEMPERATURES, AND, SO, PEOPLE
WERE -- BECAME MORE AND MORE
DEPENDENT ON THIS AND THE REST
IS KIND OF HISTORY.
CONTINUE TO HAVE THAT AND THE
PRICE OF PROPANE THEN WITH ALL
OF THE THINGS THAT I MENTIONED
WENT FROM JUST UNDER $2 TO
OVER $6.
SO WE CAN SEE HOW WE PUT A
STRAIN ON THE SYSTEM.
>> AND, YOU KNOW, THIS WENT
THE FAST TRACK ROUTE WITH THE
HOUSE SUSPENDING ITS RULES TO
TAKE THIS UP ON THE VERY FIRST
DAY OF SESSION.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO, DO YOU INTEND TO CARRY
THIS THROUGH TO THE END OF
SESSION, NOT THIS PART OF IT
BUT MAYBE LOOKING INTO THE
BIGGER PROBLEMS, THE ISSUES
THAT YOU JUST BROUGHT UP AND
TRYING TO RESOLVE SOME OF
THOSE?
>> YEAH.
THE REASON THAT I'M THE CHIEF
AUTHOR ON THE BILL IS BECAUSE
I HAVE A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN
NORTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA.
IN THAT THERE'S NO NATURAL
GAS.
SO THERE'S MORE -- MORE OF A
PERCENTAGE, PARTICULARLY OF
OUR LOWER-INCOME PEOPLE ARE ON
PROPANE.
AND, SO, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL,
AND I THINK MORE STABLIZING
IF, OH, FOR INSTANCE, ONE OF
THE REALLY GOOD NATURAL GAS
LINES COMES UP TO PINE RIVER,
WHICH IS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF CASS COUNTY, IF WE COULD --
IF WE COULD GET THAT TO CASS
LAKE, IT WOULD MAKE A HUGE
DIFFERENCE IN SOME OF THE
THINGS WE COULD DO.
SO, I THINK THAT'S -- THOSE
ARE THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO
WORK ON.
I WAS, FRANKLY, SURPRISED ON
ALL THE INTEREST THAT WE HAD
IN TERMS OF PROBLEM SOLVING IN
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE THIS
MORNING.
>> OF COURSE, WE'LL COVER IT
AS THIS BILL MAKES IT ON TO
THE SENATE FLOOR.
>> AND IT WILL, RIGHT.
IT WILL BE ON MONDAY AND MY
GUESS IS THAT THE NEXT DAY OR
EVEN LATER IN THE DAY IT WILL
PROBABLY BE ACCEPTED BY THE
HOUSE AND THE GOVERNOR, I'M
TOLD, AWAITS IT ANXIOUSLY.
>> OKAY.
SENATOR SAXHAUG, THANKS FOR
YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU.
♪
>> THE HEALTH INSURANCE
EXCHANGE, KNOWN AS MNsure,
CONTINUES TO DRAW SOME PRAISE
AND SOME CRITICISM.
WE SAT DOWN WITH MNsure'S
INTERIM C.E.O. SCOTT LEITZ TO
DISCUSS THOSE CONCERNS.
BUT BEFORE WE AIR THAT
SEGMENT, JON BRUNE RECAPS
EXACTLY HOW MNsure MOVED
THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS IN 2013.
>> MAJOR HEALTH CARE
LEGISLATION PASSED BY THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN 2010
REFERRED TO AS THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT HAD A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON HOW MINNESOTA MOVES
FORWARD WITH ITS HEALTH CARE
POLICY.
ONE ASPECT OF THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT GAVE STATES THE
OPTION TO EITHER CREATE THEIR
OWN HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGES
OR ACCEPT A FEDERAL HEALTH
CARE PLAN.
THE TOPIC WIDELY DEBATED BY
LAWMAKERS DURING THE 2013
SESSION.
>> THERE ARE CONCERNS ABOUT
THIS BILL, AND I AM TRYING TO
TAKE THEM VERY SERIOUSLY,
MEETING WITH EVERYBODY THAT I
POSSIBLY CAN TO UNDERSTAND
THEIR CONCERNS FULLY AND GET
THE RIGHT BILL AT THE END OF
THE DAY TO REALLY PROTECT
MINNESOTA CONSUMERS,
INDIVIDUALS, AND SMALL
BUSINESSES, AND MINNESOTA'S
HEALTH INSURANCE AND HEALTH
CARE INDUSTRY IN THE VERY BEST
WAY POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK THAT A MINNESOTA
APPROACH IS FAR PREFERABLE TO
THE ALTERNATIVE, WHICH IS A
FEDERAL ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL
APPROACH.
>> I THINK THAT IT IS BETTER
TO TRY TO CREATE A SYSTEM THAT
ALLOWS PEOPLE TO MAKE
DECISIONS FOR THEMSELVES.
LET'S PUT IN PLACE PROCESSES
AND PROCEDURES AND PLANS OR
PROGRAMS, LET'S PUT IN PLACE
THINGS THAT GIVE PEOPLE
CHOICES, GIVE PEOPLE
OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE CHOICES
FOR THEMSELVES, CHOOSE THEIR
DOCTORS, CHOOSE THEIR
INSURERS, CHOOSE THEIR PLANS.
WE MAY NOT AGREE WITH THEM.
WE MIGHT NOT THINK THEY'RE
RIGHT.
BUT LET'S LET THEM DO THAT.
I THINK YOU FOLKS ON THE OTHER
SIDE, I THINK WHAT YOU SAY IS,
WELL, WE JUST CAN'T ALLOW
THAT.
WE CAN'T ALLOW SOMEBODY TO
MAKE A BAD DECISION.
WE CAN'T ALLOW SOMEBODY TO
CHOOSE A HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
THAT WE KNOW ISN'T RIGHT FOR
THEM.
WE CAN'T ALLOW THAT.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY ONLY
HAVE THESE TWO OR THREE TO
CHOOSE FROM, EVEN THOUGH
THEY'RE ASTRONOMICALLY COSTLY,
THAT'S ALL RIGHT, WE'LL GET
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO COME
IN AND PAY FOR THE COST AND
EVERYTHING WILL BE GREAT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A TOOL
FOR MINNESOTA CONSUMERS,
FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS,
BUSINESSES, FOR THE FIRST TIME
BE ABLE TO SHOP ON AN
APPLES-TO-APPLES COMPARISON
FOR INSURANCE PRODUCTS.
>> AFTER CONSIDERABLE
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION AND FLOOR
DEBATE, MINNESOTA LEGISLATORS
OPTED TO DEVELOP A STATE
HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE AND
CREATED WHAT IS NOW CALLED
MNsure.
>> ONLINE THEY CAN COMPARE
HEALTH PLANS, QUALIFIED HEALTH
PLANS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
THROUGH THE EXCHANGE, THROUGH
MNsure.
IN TERMS OF A NUMBER OF
FACTORS, SOME OF THEM BEING
PREMIUMS, COST-SHARING
REQUIREMENTS, PROVIDER
NETWORK -- WHAT THE PROVIDER
NETWORKS ARE GOING TO LOOK
LIKE FOR THE HEALTH PLANS,
THEY ALSO CAN DETERMINE
WHETHER THEY'RE ELIGIBLE FOR
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR ELIGIBLE
FOR THE MINNESOTACARE PROGRAM
OR WHETHER THEY'RE ELIGIBLE
FOR THE FEDERAL PREMIUM TAX
CREDITS THAT ARE AVAILABLE
THROUGH THE AFFORDABLE CARE
ACT.
AND TO BE ELIGIBLE, YOUR
INCOME HAS TO BE UP TO 400% OF
THE FEDERAL POVERTY
GUIDELINES.
>> THE LEGISLATURE MADE
CHANGES TO OTHER GOVERNMENT
HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS IN 2013.
THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
INCLUDED THE OPTION FOR STATES
TO EXPAND MEDICARE PROGRAMS OR
WHAT MINNESOTA REFERS TO AS
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
>> THE STATE, AGAIN, DECIDED
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
OPTION AND LAST SESSION PASSED
LEGISLATION THAT EXPANDED THE
INCOME ELIGIBILITY FOR THE
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR
PARENTS AND ADULTS WITHOUT
DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
SO, SO THE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM NOW FOR THE INCOME
ELIGIBILITY FOR PARENTS AND
ADULTS WITHOUT DEPENDENT
CHILDREN GOES UP TO 133% AND
FOR CHILDREN IT'S 275 -- 275%
OF FEDERAL POVERTY GUIDELINES.
>> THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT,
ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO STATES
THE OPTION TO CREATE A BASIC
HEALTH PLAN INTENDED TO
PRODUCE MORE OPTIONS FOR
LOWER-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
>> MINNESOTA, AGAIN, DECIDED
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
OPTION AND, AGAIN, LAST
SESSION PASSED LEGISLATION
THAT ESSENTIALLY AMENDED OUR
MINNESOTACARE PROGRAM TO
BECOME THE BASIC HEALTH PLAN
BEGINNING JANUARY 1st,
2015.
IT'S BASICALLY OUR
MINNESOTACARE PROGRAM THAT'S
GOING TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR
INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES
BETWEEN 133% AND 200% WHO
WOULD OTHERWISE GO IN THROUGH
MNsure AND BUY THROUGH THE
PRIVATE MARKET, BUT BECAUSE
THEY'RE A LOWER-INCOME
FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, THE
BASIC HEALTH PLAN WILL PROVIDE
A BETTER BENEFIT SET, MORE
BENEFITS THAT MAYBE THIS
POPULATION WOULD NEED, PLUS
THE PREMIUMS AND THE
COST-SHARING REQUIREMENTS WILL
BE A LOT LESS THAN WHAT THEY
WOULD HAVE TO HAVE STAYED ON
THE PRIVATE MARKET.
>> HERE TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE
ON MINNESOTA'S HEALTH
INSURANCE EXCHANGE, WE HAVE
THE INTERIM C.E.O. OF
MNsure, SCOTT LEITZ.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> FIRST, I'D LIKE TO ASK YOU,
Mr. LEITZ, MORE THAN 100,000
PEOPLE HAVE ENROLLED IN
MNsure ACCORDING TO LAST WE
CAN'S NUMBERS.
WHAT THAT DOES MEAN?
>> WE HAVE REALLY ACHIEVED A
MILESTONE, WE HAVE OVER
100,000 PEOPLE ENROLLED, ABOUT
2/3 ARE ON PUBLIC PROGRAMS,
THOSE ARE NEW ENROLLEES WHO
ARE COMING IN COVERED AND
ABOUT OVER 30,000 PEOPLE IN
PRIVATE COVERAGE.
SO, WE ARE CONTINUING TO GROW
OUR ENROLLMENT, IT CONTINUES
TO GO UP, WHICH IS A REALLY
REALLY GREAT THING.
>> YOU BROUGHT UP THE PRIVATE
VERSUS PUBLIC.
SO LET'S GET INTO THAT A
LITTLE BIT.
THERE HAS BEEN SOME CONCERN
FROM THE G.O.P. THAT A LOT OF
YOUNG, HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS
HAVE NOT BEEN SIGNING UP, AND
THAT'S A BIG KEY COMPONENT OF
MNsure.
SO, WHERE ARE WE GOING IN THAT
DIRECTION OF THE PRIVATE
COVERAGE VERSUS PUBLIC?
>> WELL, WHAT WE KNEW WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN INITIALLY WAS
THAT WE WERE LIKELY GOING TO
SKEW A LITTLE BIT MORE HEAVILY
TOWARDS THE PUBLIC SIDE, AND
THAT'S BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S
CONTINUED ENROM AS PEOPLE MEET
INCOME ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
THEY'RE ABLE TO ENROLL IN
MEDICAID OR IN MINNESOTACARE.
WHAT WEE ANTICIPATED AND -- WE
ANTICIPATED AND WHAT WE'RE
LIKELY TO SEE, WHAT WE'RE
STARTING TO SEE, AS WE NEAR
THE MARCH 31st DEADLINE
FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE COVERAGE, PEOPLE ARE
LIKELY TO PUT OFF GOING IN TO
CONCH UNTIL THEY REALLY NEED
TO.
COVERAGE.
AND ESPECIALLY THAT'S GOING TO
BE TRUE AMONG A YOUNGER,
HEALTHIER POPULATION.
AND, SO, WHAT WE'RE
ANTICIPATING SEEING IS A
HIGHER UPTICK IN THE MONTH OF
MARCH AMONG THAT POPULATION.
SO WHILE THINGS HAVE SKEWED A
LITTLE BIT MORE POSSIBLE --
PUBLIC, WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT
THAT WILL SHIFT A LITTLE BIT
AS WE MOVE INTO MARCH.
>> WHAT IF THOSE EXPECTATIONS
DO NOT COME TO FRUITION?
DO YOU HAVE A PLAN TO TRY TO
PULL IN THAT DEMOGRAPHIC?
>> YEAH, WE'RE WORKING HARD,
WE LAUNCHED A SERIES OF ADS
LAST WEEK TALKING ABOUT THE
IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH INSURANCE
COVERAGE TO REAL MINNESOTANS.
WE HAVE TESTIMONIALS THAT ARE
AIRING.
BUT THEN WE'RE ALSO DOING 30
CITIES IN 30 DAYS, WHICH MEANS
WE'RE GOING TO BE HITTING --
DOING OUTREACH IN ALL -- IN 30
CITIES OVER THE COURSE OF THE
NEXT MONTH TO REALLY TRY TO
OUTREACH TO THAT GROUP.
>> I THINK MINNESOTANS REALLY
WANT TO KNOW, WHY IS IT SO
IMPORTANT FOR THAT DEMOGRAPHIC
TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM?
>> WELL, THE IMPORTANCE OF
THAT DEMOGRAPHIC REALLY IS THE
FOLLOWING.
INSURANCE OPERATES ON WHAT ARE
CALLED RISK POOLS, MEANING
THAT YOU NEED HEALTHY PEOPLE
TO COVER THE COST OF SICK
PEOPLE WHEN THEY'RE NEEDING
CARE.
SO, WHEN YOU HAVE A STABLE
RISK POOL, YOU HAVE A GOOD MIX
OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND OLDER
PEOPLE SO THAT AS OLDER PEOPLE
OR SICKER PEOPLE NEED COVERAGE
AND CARE, THE YOUNGER PEOPLE
ARE THERE PROVIDING INSURANCE,
PROVIDING MONEY TO THE POOL
BUT NOT NEEDING CARE SO THAT
WHEN THEY'RE SICK DOWN THE
ROAD, THERE WILL ALSO BE A
STABLE POOL.
SO HAVING A GOOD MIX OF PEOPLE
IS VERY VERY IMPORTANT.
>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
MORE ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER
G.O.P. CONCERNS RIGHT NOW FROM
I.T. ISSUES TO APPARENT LACK
OF OVERSIGHT MANAGEMENTWISE.
FROM YOUR VIEWPOINT, WHAT ARE
THE KEY CONCERNS AT THIS
POINT?
>> SO, WE MADE A LOT OF
PROGRESS ON THINGS OVER THE
COURSE OF THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
I'LL TICK THROUGH A FEW OF
THEM.
THE FIRST IS OUR CALL CENTER.
THAT WAS AN AREA OF CONCERN.
I JOINED THE ORGANIZATION IN
MID DECEMBER.
CALL CENTER WAIT TIMES AROUND
THAT TIME WERE 60 MINUTES OR
MORE FOR PEOPLE CALLING IN.
WE NOW HAVE THAT DOWN TO ONE
TO THREE MINUTES AND
ANTICIPATE THAT STAYING AT
THAT LEVEL.
SO WE'VE MADE A LOT OF
PROGRESS THERE.
ON THE WEBSITE ITSELF, IN
NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, ABOUT
ONE IN EVERY FIVE CLICKS
RESULTED IN SOME SORT OF AN
ERROR.
THERE WAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS
WITH THE WEBSITE INITIALLY.
NOW THAT'S DOWN TO LESS THAN
5%.
AND, SO, WE MADE A TON OF
PROGRESS THERE.
WE STILL HAVE TO MAKE MORE
PROGRESS ON THE WEBSITE.
NOT EVERYBODY HAS A REALLY
CLEAN EXPERIENCE, BUT THE FACT
IS THAT THE EXPERIENCE OF
INDIVIDUALS AND CONSUMERS IS
MUCH BETTER THAN IT WAS
PREVIOUSLY.
>> HOW FINANCIALLY SOLVENT IS
MNsure AT THIS POINT?
DO YOU ANTICIPATE GOING BACK
TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR MONEY?
>> WELL, FOR 014, WE ARE FULLY
FUNDED WITH FEDERAL FUNDING.
SO THAT ISN'T AN ISSUE FOR US
TO DEAL WITH.
WE DON'T ANTICIPATE GOING TO
THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR.
WHAT WE'LL BE REQUIRED TO DO
IS IN MARCH, SUBMITTING A
BUDGE, A DETAILED BUDGET, TO
THE LEGISLATURE FOR WHAT OUR
2015 AND BEYOND OPERATING
EXPENSES AND OUR LIKELY
REVENUES WILL BE.
AND, IN FACT, AT THE NEXT
BOARD MEETING, WE'LL HAVE --
WE'LL START TO BE REALLY
DIGGING INTO THAT ISSUE.
>> THE G.O.P., MANY MEMBERS
ARE ALREADY ANTICIPATING
COMING TO THE LEGISLATURE FOR
MORE MONEY AND ARE ALREADY
COMING UP WITH IDEAS FOR
PROPOSALS TO -- NOT
NECESSARILY TO FUND MNsure
IN THE FUTURE.
SO HOW ARE YOU TRYING TO
NAVIGATE THROUGH ALL OF THIS
INDECISION AND NOT REALLY SURE
WHERE YOU STAND WITH THE
LEGISLATURE?
>> WELL, THE INTERESTING PART
ABOUT MNsure'S BUDGET, OF
COURSE, IS THAT WE HAVE TO
PROJECT OUT FOR 2015 BASED ON
ENROLLMENT THAT WE SEE FOR
2014.
AND, SO, WE'LL KNOW A LOT MORE
ONCE THE MARCH ENROLLMENT
FIGURES COME IN.
AND THEY'LL WE'LL HAVE A LOT
MORE INFORMATION TO BE ABLE TO
BASE OUR BUDGET ON.
RIGHT NOW WE'LL PROBABLY TAKE
A CONSERVATIVE APPROACH IN
LOOKING AT WHAT OUR FUTURE
BUDGET NEEDS ARE GOING TO BE,
AND THEN BASED ON WHAT WE KNOW
IN TERMS OF ENROLLMENT
STARTING AT THE END OF MARCH,
WE'LL BE ABLE TO PROJECT
FORWARD A LITTLE BIT BETTER
FOR OPEN ENROLLMENT MOVING
INTO OCTOBER.
THAT WILL HELP US HAVE A MUCH
BETTER FEEL TO IT.
>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT THAT MARCH 31st
DEADLINE.
IT'S THE DEADLINE TO HAVE
HEALTH INSURANCE OR FACE A
FINANCIAL PENALTY.
IS THE WEBSITE, IN YOUR
OPINION, READY TO HANDLE
ANOTHER SURGE?
>> WE BELIEVE IT IS, YES.
WE MADE A LOT OF IMPROVEMENTS
TO THE WEBSITE.
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET THROUGH
MUCH CLEANER THAN THEY WERE
PREVIOUSLY.
DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY SINGLE
INDIVIDUAL GETS THROUGH
PERFECTLY WITHOUT A PROBLEM.
WE STILL DO KNOW THAT THERE
ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE
CHALLENGES, PARTICULARLY IF
THEY HAVE COMPLICATED FAMILY
SITUATIONS, WHERE THEY MIGHT
HAVE A CHILD ON MEDICAID, BUT
THEY THEMSELVES MIGHT BE
ELIGIBLE FOR TAX CREDITS.
WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE BACKUP
PROCESSES.
FOR THE MARCH ENROLLMENT
PERIOD TO ENSURE THAT IF
PEOPLE AREN'T ABLE TO GET ANY
COVERAGE THROUGH THE WEBSITE,
WHICH IS WHERE WE DO ENCOURAGE
THAT THEY DO GO, BECAUSE THAT
IS THE BEST AND EASIEST PLACE
FOR THEM TO GET COVERAGE, BUT
IF THEY CAN'T GET THROUGH AND
AREN'T ABLE TO COMPLETE THE
ENROLLMENT PROCESS, WE WILL
HAVE BACKUPS, PAPER AND OTHER
POSSIBLE WAYS OF DOING THAT.
>> Mr. LEITZ, YOU BASICALLY
STEPPED IN TO A ROLL AMID A
LOT OF CONTROVERSY.
SO KIND OF GIVE ME YOUR
IMPRESSION OF HOW MNsure IS
OPERATING AND WHAT YOU KIND OF
SEE, FOR LACK OF A BETTER
WORD, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE
LEGACY, HOW DO YOU THINK THE
PUBLIC WILL REMEMBER MNsure
TWO OR THREE YEARS DOWN THE
ROAD IF INDEED IT REMAINS
INTACT AND SO DOES THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
WHILE IT HAD ITS CHALLENGES IN
THE FALL, THE SITE DID GO LIVE
OCTOBER 1st AND THE LIFT
TO GET THAT DONE OVER WHAT OUR
CHIEF I.T. OFFICER HAS CALLED
A THREE-YEAR PROJECT IN ABOUT
TEN MONTHS, WAS PRETTY
AMAZING.
AND STAFF AT MNsure ARE
REALLY REALLY REMARKABLE AND
THEY'VE DONE AN AMAZING JOB.
I THINK WE'VE CONTINUED TO
MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE.
IT'S A MUCH MORE FUNCTIONAL
SITE NOW THAN IT WAS BACK TWO
MONTHS AGO.
WE'RE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE
THROUGH MUCH CLEANER NOW.
WE HEAR A LOT OF -- VERY GOOD
REPORTS FROM NAVIGATORS AND
OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT
IT'S DOING MUCH BETTER.
AND WE HEAR THAT FROM THE
PUBLIC AS WELL.
I THINK THE LEGACY TWO TO
THREE YEARS FROM NOW IS GOING
TO BE THAT MNsure IS GOING
TO BE A VERY VALUED AND
IMPORTANT TOOL IN THE LIVES OF
MINNESOTANS.
IT'S A PLACE WHERE THEY NOW
CAN GO AND COMPARE HEALTH
INSURANCE CONCH OPTIONS, SEE
WHAT'S AVAILABLE TO THEM, IT'S
CREATED COMPETITION AND
TRANSPARENCY IN THE
MARKETPLACE WHICH WASN'T
PREVIOUSLY AS STRONG AS IT
COULD HAVE BEEN.
AND I THINK MINNESOTANS ARE
GOING TO REALLY COME TO VALUE
THAT AND ALSO THE OPTIONS THAT
THEY HAVE PLUS THE OTHER
THINGS ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT WITH GUARANTEED ISSUE
AND NOT -- THE INABILITY TO
CANCEL POLICIES, OTHER THINGS.
>> OKAY, SCOTT LEITZ, WE ARE
OUT OF TIME, THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US ON THE "CAPITOL
REPORT" SET.
WE APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THIS GROUP OF HOUSE AND
SENATE REPUBLICANS IS CALLING
FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA TO EXEMPT
MINNESOTA FROM THE HEALTH
INSURANCE EXCHANGE.
SENATOR MICHELLE BENSON HAS
BEEN A STAUNCH OPPONENT OF
MINUTE SURE.
SHE'S HERE TO TALK A LITTLE
BIT MORE TO TALK ABOUT THIS
HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE AND
WHERE SHE'D LIKE TO SEE HEALTH
INSURANCE GO IN THE FUTURE.
THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
>> I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
>> SENATOR, LET'S BEGIN WITH
THE NEWS CONFERENCE THAT YOU
JUST RECENTLY HOSTED.
YOU ESSENTIALLY ASKED
PRESIDENT OBAMA TO ALLOW
MINNESOTA TO OPT OUT OF THE
EXCHANGE.
WHAT WOULD IT TAKE, DO YOU
THINK, FOR YOUR REQUEST TO
EVEN BE CONSIDERED?
>> WELL, AND IT'S NOT JUST THE
EXCHANGE.
IT'S THE ASSERTION THAT
MINNESOTA ALREADY HAD
WORLD-CLASS HEALTH CARE, AND
WE HAD LOW UNINSURED RATES AND
WE HAD PROVISIONS FOR PEOPLE
WHO WERE DIFFICULT TO INSURE.
AND, SO, INSTEAD OF JUST
TURNING EVERYTHING OVER TO
FEDERAL RULE MAKERS, WE THINK
MINNESOTANS HERE IN OUR
LEGISLATURE, MINNESOTANS IN
THEIR COMMUNITIES, ARE GOING
TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR
HEALTH CARE.
AND AFTER WE'VE SEEN SOME OF
THE DAMAGE THATs THAT'S BEEN
DONE BY THE FEDERAL LAW, I
THINK A LOT OF US WOULD LIKE
TO HAVE MINNESOTA BACK IN
CONTROL OF OUR HEALTH CARE.
>> DURING THIS NEWS
CONFERENCE, YOU DISCUSSED REAL
BROADLY FIVE AMENDMENTS THAT
WERE OFFERED LAST YEAR DURING
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT
YOU BELIEVE WOULD HAVE HELPED
MNsure, THE WHOLE PROCESS BE
MORE EFFICIENT.
WHAT WERE THOSE FIVE?
WHAT WERE THE KEY CHANGES THAT
YOU THINK SHOULD HAVE BEEN
MADE AND DO YOU THINK THEY
COULD BE BROUGHT UP THIS
SESSION?
>> I DON'T THINK ANY
MNsure-BASED LEGISLATION'S
GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP THIS
SESSION.
IT'S JUST POLITICALLY TOO
DIFFICULT FOR THE AUTHORS OF
THE ORIGINAL BILL TO SHEPHERD
THROUGH SOME CHANGES.
WE ARE IN A ELECTION YEAR.
THE GOVERNOR'S UP FOR
ELECTION.
AND, SO, I DON'T THINK
GOVERNOR DAYTON WOULD BE VERY
OPEN TO MAKING CHANGES IN
SOMETHING HE'S CONSIDERED A
SIGNATURE PIECE OF HIS
ADMINISTRATION'S POLICY.
SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD
HAVE MOST DECIDEDLY HELPED,
GIVING THE LEGISLATURE MORE
SAY, GIVING THE LEGISLATIVE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MORE SAY
OVER THE OPERATIONS OF
MNsure, JUST THE ABILITY TO
GO IN AND SAY, WE SEE A
PROBLEM, LET'S TAKE A DEEPER
LOOK.
THE BOARD STRUCTURE, VERY
CRITICAL, MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF THERE HAD BEEN
INSURANCE PROFESSIONALS AND
BROKERS THAT WERE ALLOWED TO
SIT ON THAT BOARD, IN JULY
WHEN THE INTERLINKS BETWEEN
THE INSURANCE COMPANIES AND
MNsure WERE NOT ON A PATH
FOR OCTOBER 1st, SOMEBODY
COULD HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW
WHAT, THIS ISN'T READY, WE
NEED TO START MAKING A PLAN.
INSTEAD, WE HAD TO WAIT UNTIL
THE MIDDLE AND END OF NOVEMBER
TO FIND OUT THAT THAT WAS
FAILING, EVEN THOUGH THE
INSURANCE COMPANIES KNEW IT
WASN'T WORKING.
THE 820 FILES, THE 834 FILES
AND ALL THESE LEVEL OF DETAIL
AND EXPERTISE WOULD HAVE BEEN
THERE AT THE TABLE.
AND THE BOARD KIND OF STEPPED
BACK FROM THAT RESPONSIBILITY
BECAUSE THERE WAS SUCH A STEEP
LEARNING CURVE.
BUT IF YOU HAD INDUSTRY
EXPERTS, THEY WOULD HAVE
HELPED MITIGATE SOME OF THESE
PROBLEMS EARLY ON.
BETTER SPENDING CONTROLS AT
THE LEGISLATURE.
THE ACTIVE PURCHASER
PROVISION, THE EXECUTIVE TEAM
UNDER PREVIOUS MANAGEMENT
SPENT A LOT OF TIME MANAGING
THE EXECUTIVE PURCHASER
PROCESS -- I'M SORRY -- THE
ACTIVE PURCHASER PROCESS, AND
IF THEY HAD STAYED FOCUSED ON
GETTING THE EXCHANGE ROLLED
OUT, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE HAD
BETTER TURNOUT.
>> THE LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT
COMMITTEE HAS HELD A LOT OF
HEARINGS ON THIS ISSUE UP
UNTIL EVEN LAST WEEK.
AND WE'VE HEARD SCOTT LEITZ,
THE INTERIM C.E.O. OF
MNsure, DISCUSS HOW HE
THINKS IT'S MOVING FORWARD.
ARE YOU CONTENT -- CONTENT'S
NOT THE RIGHT WORD.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE
STEPS THAT THEY HAVE BEEN
MAKING TO TRY TO REDUCE CALL
CENTER TIME AND THE ISSUES
WITH THE I.T.?
IS IT ENOUGH?
>> WELL, AND THE LEGISLATIVE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, I THINK
WE HAVE HAD SIX MEETINGS,
MAYBE IT'S ONLY BEEN FIVE, BUT
WE REALLY DIDN'T START GETTING
ENGAGED UNTIL MUCH AS I MIGHT
HAVE WANTED TO, WE DIDN'T
START GETTING ENGAGED UNTIL
THE PROBLEMS BECAME READILY
APPARENT TO EVEN THE MOST
CASUAL OBSERVER.
I AM PLEASED THAT ASSISTANT
COMMISSIONER LEITZ IS AT THE
HELM.
HE IS A VERY THOUGHTFUL AND
PRAGMATIC PERSON.
I THINK HE'S EARNESTLY TRYING
TO DO THE BEST JOB THAT HE
CAN.
BUT THE I.T. PROBLEMS THAT WE
HAVE ARE STRUCTURALLY BUILT
IN.
AND WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE SOME
MASSIVE FOUNDATIONAL CHANGES
INTO THE WAY CUSTOMER
INFORMATION IS HANDED OFF FROM
ONE VENDOR TO ANOTHER, AND
THAT'S WHY THERE IS A NEW
VENDOR COMING IN.
I HAVEN'T HEARD WHO'S BEEN
SELECTED, BUT IT WAS EITHER
THE 25th OR 26th THAT
FINAL R.F.P.s WERE DUE AND
WOULD BE VETTED.
SO BY THE END OF THIS WEEK WE
BELIEVE WE KNOW WHO THAT NEW
VENDOR IS.
YES, IT'S MORE MONEY.
BUT WE NEED SOMEBODY THERE WHO
REALLY KNOWS HOW TO RUN I.T.,
WHO KNOWS PROJECT MANAGEMENT
FROM BEGINNING TO END, THE
DAYTON ADMINISTRATION TOOK
MAXIMUS OUT OF THAT ROLE VERY
EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
INSTEAD OF LEAVING PROJECT
MANAGEMENT EXPERTS IN PLACE,
WE HAD PUBLIC POLICY EXPERTS.
AND REALLY, THIS IS A MASSIVE
I.T. PROJECT AND THE EXPERTS
WEREN'T THERE.
SO I APPLAUD THE COMMISSIONER
FOR RECOGNIZING THE PROBLEM
AND SEEKING A SOLUTION.
YOU CAN'T MOVE ANY FASTER THAN
THE I.T. PROBLEMS CAN BE
SOLVED.
CALL CENTER TIME IS DECLINING
BECAUSE FEWER CALLS ARE BEING
MADE.
AND, SO, WHILE THEY'RE GETTING
SOME TECHNICAL THINGS FIXED, I
THINK THERE'S ALSO SOME
FATIGUE THAT WE'RE SEEING IN
THE CUSTOMER BASE.
>> SENATOR, WE'RE JUST ABOUT
OUT OF TIME, BUT I DO WANT TO
ASK YOU, IF MNsure CONTINUES
INTO PERPETUITY, WHERE DO YOU
SEE YOUR ROLE?
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT COULD
CHANGE THAT WOULD GAIN YOUR
SUPPORT?
>> MY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH
MNsure IS THE AMOUNT OF
AUTHORITY WE'VE TURNED OVER TO
THE CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND
MEDICAID SERVICES IN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
BECAUSE WE HAVE ADOPTED SO
MANY PROVISIONS, WELL,
ACTUALLY, ALL OF THE
PROVISIONS OF THE AFFORDABLE
CARE ACT, C.M.S. CAN NOW TELL
US HOW TO RUN MINNESOTACARE
AND WE'RE LOOKING AT A HUGE
DEFICIT IN MINNESOTACARE, AND,
SO, UNTIL THAT FOUNDATIONAL
PIECE IS MOVED OUT OF OUR WAY,
IT'S VERY HARD FOR US AS
LEGISLATORS TO HAVE REASONABLE
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT WHERE
MINNESOTA'S HEALTH CARE SYSTEM
SHOULD GO.
>> OKAY.
SENATOR MICHELLE BENSON, WE'RE
OUT OF TIME, BUT WE APPRECIATE
YOUR TIME, AS ALWAYS.
THANK YOU.
>> I'M SO GLAD TO HAVE BEEN
INVITED BACK.
THANK YOU, JULIE.
>> SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES IS AN
ISSUE THAT COMES UP VIRTUALLY
EVERY YEAR AND COULD AGAIN IN
2014.
WE SAT DOWN WITH THE AUTHOR OF
THE HOUSE BILL, REPRESENTATIVE
JENNIFER LOON, TO DISCUSS HER
PROPOSAL AND ITS CHANCES FOR
PASSAGE.
>> WELL, BASICALLY IT REMOVES
THE PROHIBITION THAT IS IN THE
STATE BILL THAT, YOU KNOW,
APPLIES TO THE ENTIRE STATE OF
MINNESOTA.
NO OFF-SALE LIQUOR ON SUNDAYS.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER THE
STATE SETS A STATUTE IN PLACE
WITH REGARDS TO LIQUOR, THE
MUNICIPALITIES, CITY
GOVERNMENTS, HAVE THE ABILITY
TO NARROW THE FOCUS FROM WHERE
THE STATE SETS BASICALLY THE
FLOOR.
AND, SO, THAT WOULD BE THE
CASE WITH MY PROPOSAL.
WHILE THE STATE WOULD NOT PUT
THAT POLICY IN PLACE,
CERTAINLY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
WILL BE ABLE TO SAY, WE KNOW
OUR COMMUNITY AND WE DON'T
THINK WE WANT OR NEED OUR
LIQUOR STORES OPEN ON SUNDAY
AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE
ABILITY TO PASS THAT ORDINANCE
OR THAT LAW.
>> TAP ROOMS ARE PUSHING FOR
THIS.
HOW DOES THAT KIND OF CHANGE
THE GAME?
DO YOU THINK IT'S PUSHING
MOMENTUM IN FAVOR OF PASSING
THIS LEGISLATION?
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
IS AN INTERESTING COALITION OF
PEOPLE STARTING TO PUSH FOR A
CHANGE IN THIS AREA.
YOU KNOW, THE SUNDAY LIQUOR
SALE BAN HAS BEEN IN PLACE
SINCE PROHIBITION ENDED IN THE
EARLY '30s.
AND PEOPLE ARE RECOGNIZING
THAT CONSUMERS SHOP
DIFFERENTLY THAN THEY DID BACK
IN THE '30s OR '40s OR
EVEN TEN YEARS AGO.
SUNDAY IS A VERY ACTIVE RETAIL
SALES DAY FOR PEOPLE TO GO OUT
AND DO THEIR SHOPPING.
PLUS, WITH THE BOOM IN THE
START-UP OF CRAFT BREWERS AND
BREWERIES AND TAP ROOMS THAT
ARE OPEN, YOU CANNOT GO IN AND
GET YOUR GROWLER FILLED ON
SUNDAYS IN THOSE TAP ROOMS.
AND, SO, THAT'S ANOTHER
INTEREST AREA THAT HAS BEEN
DRAWN INTO THIS DEBATE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT LAST
SESSION.
THE HOUSE REJECTED A SUNDAY
SALES BILL BY A VOTE OF
106-21, THE SENATE VERSION
DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT OFF THE
FLOOR -- DIDN'T EVEN MAKE IT
TO THE FLOOR, EXCUSE ME.
SO WHAT KIND OF RECEPTION ARE
YOU GETTING?
DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO
BE ABLE TO GET SOME SUPPORT
WITH THIS?
>> WELL, ANY PROPOSAL,
ANYTHING TO W LIQUOR TENDS TO
BE A LITTLE BIT CONTROVERSIAL,
BUT THE
PROCESS THAT'S USED IS VERY
IMPORTANT.
AND I THINK TRYING TO ADD AN
AMENDMENT TO A BILL THAT'S ON
THE FLOOR, YOU KNOW, IS NOT
NECESSARILY THE BEST WAY TO GO
ABOUT THIS.
THE LIQUOR BILLS THAT PASS
THROUGH THE HOUSE AND THE
SENATE TEND TO BE VERY
CAREFULLY WORKED OUT.
THE PROPOSALS THAT ARE IN THEM
THAT MOVE GENERALLY HAVE
BIPARTISAN AND STRONG
AGREEMENT OR IF THEY'RE TOO
CONTROVERSIAL, THEY'RE LEFT
OUT OF THE BILL.
AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO RUN
THROUGH THAT PROCESS WITH THIS
INITIATIVE AS WELL.
I'M HOPING THAT WE'LL HAVE
HEARINGS IN THE COMMERCE
COMMITTEE WHERE THOSE FOR AND
OPPOSED TO THE IDEA CAN, YOU
KNOW, AIR THAT IN A FULL
PUBLIC HEARING AND THAT
PERHAPS THEN WE CAN ACTUALLY
SEE SOME PROGRESS ON THIS
ISSUE.
>> NOW, WE SPOKE WITH SENATOR
ROGER REINERT A FEW WEEKS AGO
ON THIS PROGRAM ABOUT HIS
SUNDAY LIQUOR SALES BILL.
AND HIS IS -- IT'S QUITE
DIFFERENT THAN YOUR VERSION.
HOWEVER, HE SAID HE WOULD
SUPPORT YOURS IF IT CAME TO
THE SENATE.
WOULD YOU SUPPORT HIS IF HIS
VERSION CAME TO THE HOUSE?
>> YES, YES, ACTUALLY, WE'VE
TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND, YOU
KNOW, I THINK ARE PRETTY WELL
ALIED IN TRYING TO SEE IF WE
CAN, AGAIN, MAKE SOME PROGRESS
ON THIS ISSUE THAT I THINK THE
STATEWIDE BAN DOES NOT
NECESSARILY SERVE ALL OF OUR
COMMUNITIES WELL AND WE OWE IT
TO THEM, IN MY OPINION, TO LET
THEM HAVE THE DECISION ON
THIS.
>> MY LAST QUESTION FOR YOU,
REPRESENTATIVE LOON, IS, YOU
TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
PROCESS.
SO WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO TO
TRY TO GET THIS TO THE POINT
WHERE IT CAN GAIN ENOUGH
SUPPORT TO PASS?
>> WELL, I THINK GETTING A
HEARING OR TWO OUT OF THE
HOUSE COMMERCE COMMITTEE IS --
ON WHICH I SERVE AND I'M
HOPING CHAIRMAN ATKINS WILL
FIND SOME TIME IN A VERY
SHORT, COMPRESSED SESSION TO
HOLD SOME HEARINGS.
I THINK SOME OF THE
INFORMATION THAT'S BEEN PUT
OUT, WE NEED TO HAVE A FULL
HEARING ON.
I KNOW SOME OF THE STORES,
OTHERS ARE SAYING THAT THERE
WOULDN'T BE INCREASED SALES IF
IT'S OPEN ON SUNDAYS, BUT
WE'VE HAD 16 STATES THAT HAVE
CHANGED THEIR LAWS IN THE PAST
TEN OR 12 YEARS AND THE DATA
FROM THOSE STATES INDICATES
THERE ARE INDEED INCREASED
SALES, ANYWHERE FROM 3 TO 6%.
>> IT'S NOW EASIER TO STAY IN
TOUCH WITH ACTIVITY AT THE
STATE CAPITOL.
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>> THAT WRAPS UP THIS WEEK'S
PROGRAM.
FROM ALL OF US AT SENATE MEDIA
SERVICES, I'M JULIE BARTKEY,
THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.