MINNEAPOLIS, May 9, 2008 - The MMA is not supporting a bill that was introduced and heard in the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday that would call for a constitutional amendment to dedicate the proceeds of the provider tax to the MinnesotaCare program and to increasing access to care in underserved communities.

 

If passed, the bill, authored by State Sen. Linda Berglin, DFL-Minneapolis, would put the question of a constitutional amendment before voters in this year’s general election.

 

A longstanding policy of the MMA has been to work to repeal the 2 percent provider tax and replace the revenue with alternative funding sources such as increased tobacco, alcohol, or income taxes, as needed.

 

“There is no way that the physicians of Minnesota would support codifying the provider tax into the state’s constitution, even if the proposal could protect the revenue from being diverted for purposes other than MinnesotaCare and improved access,” said Janet Silversmith, MMA director of policy.