Greetings all,

So pleased with the the Tele-Townhall with Senator John Hoffman, Representatives Jennifer Schultz and Deb Kiel and me yesterday. Here is the video:

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLyJrA0TZBc
Information: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1djY2l9SLqY84jY5QDcDL5mZjfxGaxt9wORdarK_-FPY/edit?usp=sharing

One takeaway: we will need to have the highest degree of collaboration possible to serve the needs of the over 100,000 persons with disabilities in this time of Covid-19 crisis.

Thanks to Commissioner Harpstead for her engagement and commitment to work with all parties to protect and serve this key community.

To our critically important providers, keep engaged with both the House and Senate chairs, leads and members. We need to be kept apprised of current happenings so we can react.

First off, it is essential that we do not lose any providers that we will need when the Covid-19 dust settles and it will. Just as important, we cannot have any clients in harm’s way.

I am working on finding a way to address fixed costs across the system, including DTH, day services, NEMT, other brick and mortar settings where client flow is much decreased. This needs to happen. More to come on that.

I suggest that those groups continue to reach out to House and Senate leadership, committee chairs and leads, and the local rank and file members with information about your particular challenges and the solutions we are coming up with. This will take some persuasion to make it happen.

Advice on that: start yesterday and keep pushing.

We are in this together.

Senator Jim Abeler

612.245.3764

Sen.Jim.Abeler@Senate.MN