• Prepare for Nov. 6 election 
• Register for Nov. 2 AFM clinical conference call  
• Proposed rule expands impact of receiving public benefits on immigration status   

Prepare for Nov. 6 election

Election Day is Nov. 6. MHA encourages political participation and voting, which has been made easier than ever with expanded early voting options.   

All Minnesota voters have at least one location where they can vote early in person with an absentee ballot. Depending on where you live, there may be additional locations. 

• You can vote in person at your county election office.  
• Some cities and towns offer in-person absentee voting. Check with your city clerk’s office for more information. 
• If you are unsure where to vote, the secretary of state’s office provides voting location information. 
• Minnesota residents may contact the secretary of state’s office and get a ballot directly mailed to their home. You can apply for a ballot any time during the year, except the day of the election. Leave time for election officials to mail your ballot and for you to return it on or before Election Day. 

Candidates for public office appreciate hearing from local hospital stakeholders with personal expertise about health care issues and issues affecting their community’s hospitals and clinics. Election resources for MHA members are available on the MHA Member Center. For assistance accessing the Member Center, contact Ashley Beno, member services and communications specialist, MHA, 651-603-3545.   

With questions, contact Mary Krinkie, vice president of government relations, MHA, 651-659-1465, or Kristin Loncorich, director of state government relations, MHA, 651-603-3526. return to top   

Register for Nov. 2 AFM clinical conference call

MHA and the Minnesota Department of Health are partnering to host a clinical conference call on acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) on Friday, Nov. 2, from 12-1 p.m. The call will include a brief overview of AFM and state reporting followed by a discussion of the characteristics of patient presentation in the recent cluster of cases, laboratory and radiology findings, patient management, prognosis and follow-up.   

Speakers include: 

• Anupama Kalaskar, M.D., pediatric infectious disease and immunology, Children’s Minnesota 
• William Pomputious, M.D., pediatric infectious disease, Children’s Minnesota  
• Heidi Moline, M.D., pediatric resident, University of Minnesota 

Following the presentation, speakers will be available to respond to questions.   

Advance registration is required and may be completed online. With questions, contact Susan Klammer, quality and process improvement specialist, MHA, 651-603-3529. return to top   

Proposed rule expands impact of receiving public benefits on immigration status

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a proposed rule modifying how the agency would determine whether a legal immigrant would become primarily dependent on the government for subsistence – being deemed a “public charge.”   

The proposed rule could affect a legal immigrant’s future immigration status, such as ability to get a green card, become a citizen or change visa status, based on their receipt of public benefits. The rule would expand the types of programs that can contribute to a “public charge” determination to include Medicaid, the Medicare Part D low-income subsidy and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, among other programs. The proposal does not include CHIP, WIC or federal subsidies for Affordable Care Act coverage programs.   

A number of members have raised concerns that the proposed rule could have a negative impact on population health as individuals may forgo benefits and therefore delay accessing care. Hospitals could experience an increase in bad debt and emergency department use.   

MHA plans to submit comments, which are due Dec. 10. MHA members may send feedback to be included in MHA’s comment letter to Briana Nord Parish, policy analyst, MHA, 651-603-3498. return to top