Urgent Action Needed: Protect Minnesota’s Long COVID Program

We urgently need your help to protect funding for Minnesota’s Long COVID Program!

What's Happening:

At this week’s House Health Finance and Policy Committee meeting, powerful testimonies from individuals impacted by Long COVID and IACCs underscored the critical importance of this program. Despite this moving testimony and strong written support from our community, the Minnesota House budget proposes eliminating state Long COVID program - The Sick Times.

What's at Stake:

• 375,000+ Minnesotans, including 14,000 children, impacted by Long COVID and associated chronic conditions
• Essential infrastructure supporting health, workforce stability, equity, and economic well-being
• Progress made through partnerships with 16+ community-based organizations
• 65+ educational events and statewide data tracking covering 90% of Minnesota’s population
• Engagement with health care providers from over a dozen health systems

Eliminating funding would dismantle critical support networks at a moment they're needed most.

What’s next

At this point, we don't anticipate that the House will change their stance on eliminating this funding, though they have record of these testimonies to consider. The next week will be one of intense negotiations between the House and Senate as they try to wrap up the legislative session by May 19. In the meantime, state legislators will be looking to hear directly from their constituents (https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/) and negotiating internally. The Senate in particular will be under a lot of pressure to reduce or eliminate funding for our program.

Take Action Now: Legislators urgently need to hear from constituents. Contact your state legislators immediately to urge them to protect funding for Minnesota’s Long COVID Program. Every voice matters!

Find your legislator here: https://www.gis.lcc.mn.gov/iMaps/districts/

Send a letter on the next page -->

Together, we can ensure Minnesota continues to support those living with Long COVID and other infection-associated chronic conditions.

Thank you for your continued advocacy!