HHS Bill: Mixed Results
Both positive
and disappointing results in Health and Human Services from
the 2007 legislative session
by Anne L. Henry,
Minnesota Disability Law
Center
The 2007 Minnesota Legislative
Session ended dramatically; votes on major funding bills happened
at the last possible minute, because negotiations with the governor
failed to reach final agreements in most areas. From the beginning
of the session, efforts to improve services and funding for persons
with disabilities faced a number of serious problems: the available
revenue to restore cuts from the past four years or fund new services
was very tight, the governor opposed any revenue or tax increases to fund services
or programs, and the House and Senate did not have veto-proof majorities to override
the governor’s promised vetoes of new revenue.
Although there were many disappointments for persons with disabilities,
the legislative session did produce some positive changes in the Health
and Human Services area:
Significant Improvements for Mental Health Services Adopted
A very significant effort to improve mental health treatment throughout
Minnesota’s service system for children and adults was successful
this year. The resulting legislation, proposed in the governor’s
budget, adds mental health services to state health care programs,
establishes a demonstration project using managed care and increases
in funding to numerous grant programs and for infrastructure needs.
This effort, the result of over three years of work, was supported
broadly by mental health consumers, advocates, providers, as well
as the Department of Human Services (DHS), the governor and many
legislators. The notable changes provide $34 million in increased
funding for mental health services over the biennium. (A fuller article
on these changes is coming in next month’s issue.) ![]()
