Health care assistance extended

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Low-income Minnesotans who depend on a state program for health care won a one-month extension.

General Assistance Medical Care will remain in operation a month longer than expected, Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Human Services Commissioner Cal Ludeman announced Wednesday. The new date for the program to end is April 1.

“This extra month of GAMC coverage is possible because program costs and new enrollment were lower than projected,” Pawlenty said. “The extension means that people can remain on GAMC through March and then will automatically be transitioned to MinnesotaCare.”

Pawlenty’s summer action to eliminate GAMC, in the name of balancing the state budget, has been controversial. Democrats who control the Legislature said they hope to pass legislation soon after the 2010 session begins on next week to reinstate it. Wednesday’s Pawlenty action at least gives them longer to negotiate a way to keep the program going.

Tags: two harbors, news, health care