REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK | Faces and dollar signs: The human impact of losing General Assistance Medical Care

We are working on a story about the impact of cutting General Assistance Medical Care, and we’d like your help and input:

• Are you someone who has been affected by GAMC? What is your story?
• Is your organization connected to this issue? What is your organization’s stance?
• Why, when the state needs more money, do those who need help the most, lose the most?

Send your stories, suggestions, input to nora@tcdailyplanet.net

What we know

Governor Pawlenty recently cut the General Assistance Medical Care from the state budget, effectively eliminating the program in its entirety. It is estimated that 30,000 Minnesota residents will lose their health care.

1. The money will run out and the program officially will officially end April 1, 2010.


2. The legislative session begins February 4, 2010.


3. Many of those who are receiving General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) are living on $203 a month, and are homeless, in precarious housing, or low-income housing. Seventy percent of those who receive GAMC deal with a mental illness or substance abuse.


4. GAMC covers those who are at or below 75 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. GAMC covers adults who have no dependent children who make less than $8,123/year


5. Many GAMC receivers will not be covered by MinnesotaCare because of: higher co-pays, residency requirements, limited hospital coverage, application processes, and amount of time required to be uninsured in order to be reinsured by MNCARE (four months).


6. Many who receive GAMC have not been informed that their health coverage will be lost in April 2010. Others have begun weaning themselves off medication in preparation for the loss of GAMC.


7. Homeless shelters and organizations providing help to those in poverty expect to an increase in deaths and disruption in their organizations as a direct result of losing GAMC.


8. St. Stephen’s Human Rights Group is looking at the loss of GAMC through the lens of human rights and they are compiling videos on those affected by the loss of GAMC.

Links

St. Stephen’s Human Rights Group is compiling videos of those who are directly affected by the loss of GAMC. www.youtube.com key word: St. Stephens GAMC

St. Stephen’s Human Rights Group http://www.ststephensmpls.org/default.cfm?PID=1.16.7

General information about GAMC www.mn.bridgetobenefits.org , www.dhs.state.mn.us

Saint Paul Legal Ledger – article on GAMC – interview with State Sen. Linda Berglin www.politicsinminnesota.com/categories/general-assistance-medical-care

What can concerned citizens do?

Call your legislator – find your state legislator http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/Districtfinder.asp