COVID-19 update, House remote committee hearing, and Census 2020

Dear neighbor,

I hope you and your family are staying safe and healthy. We know that this public health crisis will have an unpredictable and lasting impact on the health and economic well-being of Minnesotans. The Minnesota House of Representatives is continuing to work closely with Governor Walz and his Administration and do everything we can to help Minnesotans during this difficult time.

Minnesota House Rules Committee holds remote hearing

The Minnesota House of Representatives Rules and Legislative Administration Committee, which I chair, held a remote hearing Wednesday to outline the new House remote committee process. House Rule 10.01, passed on March 26th, allows floor and committee procedures related to member debate and voting to occur by means of distance voting, remote electronic voting, or voting by other means designed to allow legislative operations while preserving the safety of the public, staff, and members.

We are continuing our efforts to adapt how the Minnesota House of Representatives operates during this pandemic, including our committee process. We are developing this remote process so the public can engage in the legislative process while also protecting the health of members, staff, and Minnesotans. We are adapting to serve the public as we were elected to do.

While this committee hearing was audio-only, the House is working to implement video committee meetings in the future. Audio — and future video — of any remote hearings will be broadcast live on the House website, YouTube, and Facebook.

Members of the public interested in testifying in future committees should email committee staff. Detailed information will be provided in meeting notices and on the House website. Members of the public are also encouraged to stay in touch with their State Representatives during the pandemic through email, phone, virtual town halls and public briefings, legislator newsletters, House committee listservs, and House Public Information.

The House Rules and Legislative Administration Committee also approved two new House HR policies on emergency telecommuting and emergency sick leave during a widespread illness. This is the first time official House votes have been taken in a remote setting.

Census 2020

Wednesday was Census Day, marking the official launch of the 2020 Census. Responding to the Census is one way we can show how much Minnesotans care about each other. All of us have a stake in the outcome, and with new uncertainties created by the COVID-19 pandemic, it's now more important than ever to ensure that your family, neighbors, and community benefit. Get started at https://my2020census.gov.

Health plans waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19

On Thursday, Minnesota’s health plans announced that they had agreed to waive cost-sharing for treatment of COVID-19.

Minnesotans with commercial insurance—including individuals, small businesses, and some large businesses—are now eligible for the following benefits:

• Minnesotans will have no cost-sharing charges for COVID testing.
• Minnesotans who are hospitalized will have no cost-sharing charges for in-network hospitalization.
• Minnesotans will have expanded access to telemedicine services. This will help people to stay home and access care if they need it.

Minnesota health plans that have agreed are Blue Cross and Blue Shield, HealthPartners, Hennepin Health, Medica, PreferredOne, and UCare.

Many Minnesotans that receive their coverage through their employer have self-insured plans. While the Minnesota Departments of Health and Commerce do not have regulatory authority over these plans, they are encouraging employers to work with their plan administrators to implement similar measures.

Child care grants available

The application process for emergency grants for child care providers is now open. The funding for this program was included in legislation passed by the House and Senate on March 26th.

There are approximately 420,000 children under the age of 12 who live in a household of an essential worker within a critical sector. Of these, the state estimates that during this peacetime emergency, about 270,000 children will need care and approximately 120,000 are likely to need and use licensed child care settings.

These grants will provide about $10 million per month over the next few months to support basic infrastructure needed to keep child care capacity available.

Child Care Aware of Minnesota will administer and distribute these funds for emergency child care services. Grants can be found here: https://www.childcareawaremn.org/providers/emergency-child-care-grants/

State of the State

Earlier this week, the Governor announced he will deliver his second State of the State address on Sunday, April 5, beginning at 7:00pm. The address will be delivered live from the Governor’s Residence and can be watched on YouTube Live.

My office will continue to be a resource to find answers to your questions and provide updates about the status of this public health crisis. Please reach out if I can be of assistance and consider sharing this email with your neighbor or relatives. If you know of anyone who would appreciate these updates, please let them know they can subscribe to my email list here.

House staff are tele-commuting in order to comply with public health guidance, so if you call my office at 651-296-7026, please be prepared to leave a voicemail message. You can also send an email to rep.ryan.winkler@house.mn.

Despite receiving a high volume of communication in recent days, I will respond to your messages as soon as possible. Thank you to everyone for doing your part in fighting the spread of COVID-19.

Sincerely,

Rep. Ryan Winkler
House Majority Leader