U.S. House vote on Medicaid would help Minnesota

WASHINGTON -- Representative Keith Ellison has added a provision to a Medicaid bill to preserve funding levels for a program that helps neglected kids, elderly and the mentally ill.

The House bill would impose a one-year moratorium on seven rules changes the Bush administration argues are needed to rectify waste and abuse in Medicaid.

One of those rules was aimed at a program called "Targeted Case Management" by prohibiting federal payments for certain services. The provision by Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat, blocks those changes, which could cost Minnesota tens of millions of dollars.

In February, the Senate approved legislation, backed by Minnesota's senators, to delay that rule for one year. But since the House bill is broader, new action by the Senate is required to get the changes through Congress.