Tonight's veto statement leaves opening for "common agreement" that would
expand government control over medical decisions

Minneapolis/Saint Paul - While Citizens' Council on Health Care supports Governor Pawlenty's veto tonight of the DFL health care reform bill, H.F. 3391, CCHC says the Governor's statement in the veto letter should concern citizens and patients.

"Unfortunately, the Governor gives a high five to the policy parts of the bill that advance government control over the practice of medicine and impose price controls in health care. These will lead to rationing of care," says Twila Brase, president, CCHC.

Brase points with concern to Governor Pawlenty's final statement in tonight's veto letter:

"This bill makes progress in several areas, including improved transparency of price and quality, advancement of e-prescribing and electronic health records, development of medical homes, care coordination of chronic disease, and the beginning of payment reform to pay doctors for evidence-based, high-quality health care. I hope we can move forward on these areas of common agreement and make some prograss toward broader health care reform."

Brase says Governor Pawlenty's letter expresses support for laws that restrict access to care through a new gatekeeper system—the medical home. It also supports requiring doctors to comply with government treatment directives, requiring interoperable electronic systems for tracking treatment decisions and gathering detailed data about patients, and letting government begin deciding how doctors are paid.

"By all appearances, Governor Pawlenty wants to put bureaucrats in the driver's seat of medical decisions. Gone will be access to the individualized care that patients want and need," says Brase.

"Government and medicine are an unhealthy mix. We ask Governor Pawlenty to reconsider giving his blessing to any legislation that will begin taking Minnesotans down the road to health care rationing," she says.

Twila Brase is president of Citizens' Council on Health Care. She can be reached at 651-646-8935.