If you were unable to attend this year's Single-Payer Summer Celebration, or just simply want to see it again, here is T.R. Reid's talk from the evening in it's entirety, along with the Q & A.  Enjoy!

Watch Senator John Marty Speak to 5 Eyewitness News | March 6, 2011

State Senator, John Marty, (DFL) Roseville, told 5 Eyewitness News that he plans to introduce legislation this week that would eliminate seven HMOs from delivering public healthcare plans like Medicaid and Minn-Care.

Marty says HMOs spend three billion dollars of your tax dollars every year on public health care plans and do not open their books to state auditors.

via DemocracyNOW.org - "As the House votes to repeal President Obama’s healthcare reform bill, the state

Watch KSTP Ten O'Clock News Clip  December 14, 2010

State Senator John Marty told us he will fight to open HMO books in the next legislative session starting in January. Right now, the state pays 3-billion annually to nine HMOs to administer Minnesota's public health plans such as Medicaid, MinnCare and General Medical Assistance Care. But, Senator Marty says those HMOs get the check and are not scrutinized over how they spend the money.

Dave Feinwachs, the former lead attorney for the Minnesota Hospital Association, told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that taxpayers have a right to see how much money is actually spent on health care and how much goes toward administrative costs at the HMOs. Feinwachs made a video outlining what he calls HMO secrets about public health programs and taxpayer money.

The Minnesota Council on Health Plans says HMOs are already scrutinized enough about where the money is spent and any further, more intrusive audits, would jeopardize trade secrets. Watch TV Clip  Here

Watch the Full PMAP Report

PMAP Presentation (11.17.10) from PMAP Reform on Vimeo.

Senator John Marty, Chief Author of the MN Health Plan, Dr David Mair, Steering Committee of Physicians for a Naitonal Health Program-MN and Amy Lange, Executive Director of the MN Universal Health Care Coalition were guests on Truth to Tell November 29, 2010.  Listen to the broadcast as they discuss the benefits of single-payer, the state based single-payer movement and the way forward in the new political lanscape.

By Lorna Benson, MN Public Radio
October 27, 2010

In tackling a projected $5.8 billion budget deficit, Minnesota's next governor will have to make big decisions about the state Department of Human Services...

...Emmer's plan to not fully fund the agency's budget would be the equivalent of eliminating the entire MinnesotaCare insurance program. Although Emmer hasn't proposed that, he wants to eventually drop the provider tax that pays for the program and give recipients vouchers to purchase private insurance. He also wants to give tax deductions to doctors who provide charity care.

...Dayton is on record saying that he would restore funding for nursing homes. He also wants to expand public health coverage, and has long supported a government-run, single payer system. Dayton said he would gladly accept Minnesota's early enrollment in the expanded Medicaid program allowed under the federal health care overhaul.

...Horner's budget plan for the Department of Human Services would fully fund the agency and provide an additional $400 million to pay for some policy changes. However, he favors paying for health outcomes, not procedures. Horner also said he would coordinate care among different providers for expensive chronic conditions and overhaul public health programs without eliminating coverage for vulnerable people...   The Full Story

Activists in New York City Mark Medicare's 45th Anniversary

In this video by the Senate Media Services, Senator John Marty, Chief Author, makes the case for the Minnesota Health Plan.

On Almanac with Cathy Wurzer and Eric Eskola
Twin Cities Public Television

July 2, 2010

The DFL Gubernatorial candidates "square off" on Almanac.  Discussion of single-payer and the MN Health Plan begins around minute 26.