Two southeastern Minnesotans will serve on a citizens forum charged by Gov. Tim Pawlenty to study the "crisis" of increasing health care costs and to recommend strategies to control spending.
"Minnesota and our nation face a growing health care cost crisis," Pawlenty said in a statement. "We must take this problem on now, before it reaches the breaking point."
The group, which will be led by former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger, will work through December. Members plan to hold four meetings to develop short-term and long-term strategies to control costs. It will travel throughout the state to gain citizen input.
The forum will deliver its recommendations and a report to Pawlenty and the Legislature in January.
Forum members include Duane Benson of Lanesboro, who helped create the MinnesotaCare health insurance program as a state senator, and Dr. Douglas Wood of Rochester, vice chairman of Mayo Clinic's Department of Internal Medicine and a practicing radiologist.
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Among the others on the forum are Roger Moe, former Senate Majority Leader, and Pamela Wheelock, finance commissioner under Gov. Jesse Ventura.
