Minnesota Children’s Hospital Leaders Call on Governor Pawlenty and Legislators to Protect Health Care for Children in Minnesota

Impact of proposed cuts in Medicaid programs serving children would be felt statewide

May 4, 2009

As healthcare budget negotiations enter the final stage at the state Capitol, the leaders of two of Minnesota’s major children’s hospitals (Alan Goldbloom, MD, president and CEO of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota and Margaret Perryman, president and CEO of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul) today sounded an alarm bell, urging the Legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty to pull back from steep cuts proposed in Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for low-income people – including a huge population of children.

If we don't speak now for children's needs in health reform, they may be overlooked. Share your views at http://www.speaknowforkids.org/.

[From Left] Representative Thomas Huntley; Assistant Majority Leader Representative Erin Murphy; Speaker of the House Representative Margaret Anderson Kelliher; Melissa Winger, patient-family advocate and Children’s of Minnesota Family Advisory Council Chair; Alan Goldbloom, MD, president and CEO of Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota; Margaret Perryman, president and CEO of Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul; Assistant Senate Majority Leader Senator Tarryl Clark

Margaret Perryman and Alan Goldbloom

Speaker of the House Representative Margaret Anderson Kelliher

Assistant Senate Majority Leader, Senator Tarryl Clark

Melissa Winger, patient-family advocate and Children’s of Minnesota Family Advisory Council Chair

Representative Paul Thissen

Minnesota Hospital Association President Lawrence Massa (left) and Alan Goldbloom

Assistant Majority Leader Representative Erin Murphy (left) and Melissa Winger

Lawrence Massa and Representative Thomas Huntley