March22,2013 TheHonorablePaulThissen TheHonorableThomasBakk SpeakeroftheHouse MajorityLeader MinnesotaHouseofRepresentatives MinnesotaSenate StateOfficeBuildingRoom463 CapitolRoom226 100Rev.Dr.MartinLutherKingJr.Blvd. 75Rev.Dr.MartinLutherKingJr.Blvd. SaintPaul,MN551551605 SaintPaul,MN551551206 DearSenateMajorityLeaderBakkandSpeakerThissen, Wewritetoyoutodaytoexpressourdisappointment,dismayandfrustration.

ion.Afteradecadeof compoundingcutstotheHealthandHumanServices(HHS)budget,itisunfathomablethatDFL leadershiphassetHHStargetsthatwouldcutanother$150millionfromneededservicesforourmost sickandvulnerableresidents. Thesebudgettargetsareevenmoreperplexinginlightof$2billionofproposednewrevenuesand, moreimportant,thefactthattheHHSbudgetisoneofthefewareaswithactualexpendituresbelow projectionsintheFebruaryforecast. PolicymakershaverepeatedlycalledforHealthandHumanServicestobearthebruntofsolvingthe overallbudget.Everytime,HealthandHumanServicesstakeholdershavetakentheirhits. Compoundingcuts,includinglastbienniums$1.1billion,havestrainedourorganizationsabilityto continuetoprovidethelevelofservicesMinnesotansneed. Mostrecently,sixhealthcareproviderorganizationsputthemselvesonthelinebyparticipating intheHealthCareDeliverySystemdemonstrationprojectthatisestimatedtoresultin$90 millioninadditionalsavingsforthestate.Wearereforminghealthcareandbendingthecost curveandbudgetcutsatthistimewillunravelthisreform. Longtermcareprovidershaveforegonecostoflivingincreasesandexperiencedsignificant reductions. Thementalhealthsystemhaslongawaitedinvestmentsforcommunityservices. Countlesssafetynetprogramsdesignedtointerveneearlytoavoidmuchcostlierhealthand socialservicescostsinthefuturehavestruggledtomaintainneededservicesinthemidstof constantlydecliningresources. Providerpaymentrateshavebeenreducedorheldflatyearafteryear. NowwithGovernorDaytonproposingtoincreaseHHSspendingby$170million,weareconfrontedby DFLlegislativemajoritiesproposingtoslash$150millionfromtheHealthandHumanServicesbudget whileeveryotherbudgetareareceivesincreasedfundingorisheldvirtuallyharmless.

Weaskyoutochangeyourbudgettargetsbeforetherealworkofthebudgetcommitteesbegin. Sincerely,

PleaseseethefollowinglistofundersignedorganizationsasofMarch25. cc:SenatorTonyLourey RepresentativeTomHuntley

MinnesotaHospitalAssociation AppleTreeDental ArcMinnesota CanvasHealth CatholicHealthAssociationMinnesota CentraCareHealthSystem ChildrensDefenseFundMinnesota ChildrensDentalServices CommunityInvolvementPrograms CourageCenter EssentiaHealth FairviewHealthServices Fraser GRACEHouseofItascaCounty GuildIncorporated HammMemorialPsychiatricClinic HennepinCountyMedicalCenter HumanDevelopmentCenter LongTermCareImperative LutheranSocialServiceofMinnesota MentalHealthAssociationofMinnesota MentalHealthProvidersAssociationof Minnesota MinnesotaAssociationforChildrens MentalHealth MinnesotaAssociationfortheEducationof YoungChildren MinnesotaAssociationofCommunity HealthCenters MinnesotaAssociationofCommunity MentalHealthPrograms,Inc.

MinnesotaChildCareAssociation MinnesotaCoalitionofLicensed SocialWorkers MinnesotaCommunityActionPartnership MinnesotaCouncilofChildCaringAgencies MinnesotaDentalAssociation MinnesotaLicensedPracticalNurses Association MinnesotaMedicalAssociation MinnesotaPsychiatricSociety MinnesotaPsychologicalAssociation MinnesotaSafetyNetCoalition MinnesotaSchoolAgeCareAlliance MinnesotaSocietyofInterventionalPain Physicians NAMIMinnesota NationalAssociationofSocialWorkers, MinnesotaChapter NorthMemorialMedicalCenter NorthlandCounselingCenter PeopleIncorporatedMentalHealthServices PorticoHealthnet R80NonEmergencyMedicalTransportation Coalition RangeMentalHealthCenter SanfordHealth SouthCentralHumanRelationsCenter TheEmilyProgramFoundation TouchstoneMentalHealth VailPlace WoodlandCenters YWCAofMinneapolis