Minn. Senate approves health plan for poor

The Democratic-led Senate has approved a compromise plan to preserve state-run health care for more than 30,000 poor Minnesotans.

The vote was 50-17.

Opposition came mainly from rural Democrats who complained that hospitals outside the Twin Cities would be shortchanged under the deal between Democratic negotiators and Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. Most Republicans voted yes on the bill.

The legislation would slash spending on the General Assistance Medical Care program. Safety-net hospitals would get fixed payments to coordinate health care and prescriptions for patients who include the homeless, veterans, addicts and the mentally ill.

General Assistance Medical Care had been scheduled to end April 1.

A House vote could come as early as next week.