Gov. Mark Dayton
by Tim Pugmire, Minnesota Public Radio
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton said today that he shares the concerns of several prominent community organizations that Minnesota's new health insurance exchange, MNsure, has neglected African-American and Somali groups in its initial outreach effort.
The Minneapolis Urban League and other groups have complained that they were excluded from MNsure's first $4 million round of grants aimed at enrolling people in the new system.
Dayton told reporters that he takes the complaints seriously and has sent messages to the April Todd-Malmlov, MNsure's executive director, and Lucinda Jesson, commissioner of the state Department of Human Services.
"They certainly heard as they should from those who were rightfully indignant that they were excluded from the outreach funding," the governor said. "I hope that the board will act with additional funds to remedy that, and I hope that they won't repeat that mistake again."
Dayton said he believes MNsure board members will address the concerns. The exchange begins operating Oct. 1.
Source: MPR