State Sen. Hann in DC to lobby for Medicaid rule waiver

State Sen. David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, is in today Washington D.C. to lobby for a waiver from federal Medicaid rules.

Minnesota Republicans want to make major changes in the Medicaid program to cut the state's budget deficit, but they need federal approval to do it.

But as Hann explained, he's only talking to Congressional offices, not to any of the administration officials who could grant the state a waiver.

"Rather than go on a mission that would be talking to a bureaucratic structure that has no reason to take anything I would say into consideration, what we're trying to do is work with our elected representatives to make the case that if we can reach an agreement on a waiver structure that we believe is sound, then we'd need their help in getting it done," Hann said.

Hann said his meetings with the state's congressional delegation have been positive. The budget proposal put forward by Hann assumes about $600 million in savings from a federal waiver.

Gov. Dayton has criticized the proposal, calling it unrealistic. Dayton says a tax increase on the state's top earners has to be a part of the budget solution.

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