A compromise Minnesota health plan for the very poor was rescued when Gov. Tim Pawlenty's administration changed course and negotiated with participating hospitals to limit the number of patients each will see. As a result, Hennepin County Medical Center and three other hospitals will participate in a slimmed-down version of General Assistance Medical Care, a health plan for thousands of Minnesota's poorest and sickest residents. The four hospitals serve about 47% of the current 36,426 enrollees, none outstate. The remaining 144 Minnesota hospitals will treat patients and dip into a $20 million fund for that purpose, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
