Plea to Ludeman: Avoid the 35K Disaster

Because of the Governor's line-item veto and unallotment decisions, the state of Minnesota is about to drop 35,000 from General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC) health care coverage. These 35,000 are some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our state. Many are homeless, mentally ill, and suffer from chronic disease. Physicians, nurses, social workers, sheriffs, shelter staff, and GAMC recipients themselves are raising alarms that, without coverage and needed care, people will die --this is what I call the impending 35K disaster. Here is my letter:

Dear Commissioner Ludeman,

Had then-Commissioner of Transportation Carol Molnau known in April, 2007 that the 35W bridge would collapse she certainly would have done something to prevent the deaths of 13 people four months later.

In about four months funds for GAMC run out. Experts from across a field of professions are raising the alarm that people will die. We are convinced that the scale of the 8/1/07 bridge disaster and the looming 3/1/10 disaster are about the same.

Commissioner Ludeman, you have the benefit of foreknowledge.

Your position in the administration is indispensable and I pray that you still are loyal to the mission of your department:

The Minnesota Department of Human Services helps people meet their basic needs by providing or administering health care coverage, economic assistance, and a variety of services for children, people with disabilities and older Minnesotans.

GAMC recipients need a sound bridge of health care coverage that keeps health services in place until the hoped-for federal reforms reach us in three to four years.

We hope God blesses you in the days ahead to stand for the goodness of our State. Please know that we are doing everything we can to build the political will for necessary repairs.

God’s peace,
Brian Rusche, JRLC