Wednesday morning, Governor Dayton submitted several documents to the court on the government shutdown. These included three noteworthy documents: criteria for the prioritization of government services, a legal brief outlining his rationale, and a list of government functions that are necessary to maintain individual’s health and safety the state is constitutionally required to provide.
The most important document, the listing of functions, outlines the programs that would continue under a shutdown. For the Department of Human Services, this includes programs providing entitlements to cash, food, & health care assistance to recipients eligible as of 6/30/2011. This list includes these programs: Medicaid, MFIP/DWP, General Assistance, & Minnesota Supplemental Aid and refugee cash assistance, Group Residential Housing, MinnesotaCare, Food Support, MN Food Assistance Program, and Adoption Assistance. Also included is a minimal level of staff and operating expenses that are necessary to continue these operations.
At the same time, the listing specifies that while entitlement programs will continue, related provider payments will not. It is unclear how individuals can receive services without paying providers. We will be meeting with other Medicaid providers tomorrow to discuss this and formulate a response.
The governor does not have the final say on which programs and services are essential. That decision will be made by a Ramsey County judge. We are exploring our legal options in light of this development and will determine the next steps at the June 16 board meeting.
--Craig Wieber, Chief Fiscal Analyst