Former legislators, a retired Minnesota Viking and representatives of business, labor and medicine urged the public Tuesday to press politicians to adopt new methods for preventing and treating chronic disease.
The push comes as legislators prepare to present a proposal designed to strengthen care for people with heart disease, diabetes and other chronic illness, and to save money.
Former Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, a DFLer, said chronic diseases are putting a strain on the health care system, and he encouraged people to raise the issue with politicians during the election campaign.
After the group's appearance at the State Capitol, Rep. Thomas Huntley, DFL-Duluth, a member of two panels studying health care reform, said most of the talk "is about chronic disease and how we can improve people's lives and save money."
He predicted a bill to shift health care spending from specialty medicine to primary care.
Moe, former Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson, a fellow DFLer, and former Viking Joey Browner were among those at the news conference. Dr. Kenneth Thorpe, executive director of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, said the group decided to focus part of its nationwide initiative on Minnesota because it could become a battleground in the presidential race.
PAT DOYLE
