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Time to get government out of health care?

Scrapping MNsure, scaling back regulations and boosting competition — those are just some of the ideas Republican gubernatorial candidates have for improving Minnesota's health care system. More than 100 people turned out Monday night to hear the...

Scrapping MNsure, scaling back regulations and boosting competition — those are just some of the ideas Republican gubernatorial candidates have for improving Minnesota's health care system.

More than 100 people turned out Monday night to hear the four GOP hopefuls detail their views on health care at a forum in the Heintz Center at Rochester Community and Technical College. Fielding questions were state Rep. Matt Dean, former Minnesota Republican Party Chairman Keith Downey, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson and state Sen. David Osmek. The event was sponsored by the Minnesota Medical Association and Zumbro Valley Medical Society.

The candidates agreed that Obamacare has been bad for Minnesota's health care system and changes are needed. Dean noted he sponsored a bill to get rid of MNsure — the state-run health insurance exchange.

"The system that we have is government imposed. It's soviet controlled, it's top down, it's too big, it's too bossy, it's too nosy and it's gotten between you and your doctor," Dean said.

All four candidates agreed that less government involvement in health care is essential. That is in sharp contrast to last week's Rochester forum with five DFL gubernatorial candidates. Rochester Rep. Tina Liebling, State Auditor Rebecca Otto and Minneapolis Rep. Paul Thissen voiced support for moving to a single-payer system. St. Paul Rep. Erin Murphy and 1st District Rep. Tim Walz said they favor giving Minnesotans the option of buying into MinnesotaCare.

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Osmek said a single-payer system would be "a disaster." He said government cannot fix the health care system.

"The best way to go about it is having the private sector come to the rescue and not government because government tends to screw it up when they take part," Osmek said.

During the forum, the candidates were asked how they would improve the system while helping make sure people can get access to the care they need. Watching the candidates answer were about 30 people from the "Save Our Hospital" group, which is fighting Mayo Clinic Health System's decision to move most inpatient services from its Albert Lea hospital to its Austin location. They held signs that read "We stand for rural health care" and wore "Save Our Hospital" buttons.

Downey unveiled what he is calling his "Healthy Minnesota Plan" at the event. The proposal calls for getting rid of MNsure. It also changes how low-income Minnesotans get health insurance. Under the plan, Minnesotans enrolled in state-run programs would be given vouchers to purchase private health insurance.

"My proposal says that instead of going to a bigger, more intrusive government system, we should actually go to something that empowers consumers," Downey said.

Johnson said that if he is elected governor, he would support trying to increase competition among providers. One way to do that would be moving away from the state's "certificate of need" process for opening new hospitals.

"If you want to open a new hospital, you have to go through a year-long legislative process that doesn't serve the people. It might serve institutions, but it doesn't serve people."

He also favors allowing mid-level practitioners — such as nurse practitioners and dental therapists — the ability to provide more health care in underserved areas of the state.

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Dean told the crowd that Minnesota had the best health care system in the state and still does. He said he'd pursue waivers from the federal government so that Minnesota can develop its own health care system.

Osmek said he would focus on getting rid of burdensome mandates in the health care system. He said it is also important to start moving toward a system where health insurance is portable instead of being tied to an individual's employer.

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From left, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, State Rep. Matt Dean, State Sen. David Osmek and former State Rep. Keith Downey participate in the GOP Gubernatorial Forum held Monday at Rochester Community and Technical College Heintz Center Commons.

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