Laura visits Queen of Peace Hospital in New Prague, with Dr. Michael Wilcox and Hospital Administrator Mary Klimp.

Treating an Unhealthy Trend

While our Minnesota state budget has grown by about 9%, healthcare costs are growing much more rapidly at over 20%.

The Minnesota Experience

Minnesota ranks number one in the number of people who are covered by private or public health insurance. Even considering that, healthcare concerns also often top the charts in the minds of citizens. Rising healthcare costs affect all Minnesotans quality of life and Laura Brod understands the importance of reforming our healthcare system.

The Status Quo Just Won’t Work Anymore

Healthcare spending is growing faster than any other area of our state's budget. "If we do nothing to contain cost increases in our public healthcare programs," says Laura Brod, "the costs will eat up our ability to fund other state budget priorities. For example, if we project the costs of projecting the costs of our public programs forward, we would have to double income tax receipts every eight years to keep up with the rate of growth in those programs. That is clearly not possible nor sustainable!"

Rep. Brod has supported measures to start tackling high medical costs, including efforts to reduce unnecessary state mandates that drive up the cost of family insurance premiums. She has supported reforms that give small businesses greater flexibility in choosing affordable health insurance for their employees, and that encourage more consumer involvement and lower healthcare costs through the increased use of Health Savings Accounts. She is working for greater transparency in the cost and quality of medical services, so people can really know what they are paying for and make more educated choices. Rep. Brod has also supported nursing homes through providing a COLA increase to staff, supporting medical liability reform to address rising insurance costs, and by trying to reduce unnecessary mandates and bureaucracy so nurses can spend more time with patients and less time on paperwork.