mcnlogo125x100The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) announced today that the organization will support the health care reform package moving through Congress, but only if it includes provisions for nonprofit agencies.

The group said it would support health reform “on the condition that small nonprofit employers receive the same treatment as small businesses.” With the lead of Rep. Betty McCollum, Reps. Keith Ellison, James Oberstar and Tim Walz are urging Congress to include nonprofits in health care reform bills.

“Like other employers, charitable organizations continue to see double-digit premium increases, which is obviously unsustainable,” Jon Pratt, executive director of MCN, said in a statement.

The group noted that one in ten employees in Minnesota work for a nonprofit and that Minnesota’s charitable organizations provide health insurance coverage for 98 percent of their employees compared to 43 percent of small businesses nationally.

“Our standard of care in Minnesota is at the top nationally – to keep it there we need comprehensive reform that will make health care affordable for small employers, including nonprofits,” said Steve Francisco, MCN federal policy director. “Federal health care reform must be affordable and sustainable.”