Gov. Mark Dayton on Tuesday strongly criticized the Republican health-care plan, warning it would hurt rural Minnesota and urged Congress to reject the proposal following a nonpartisan analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

"Unfortunately, the proposal from Congressional House Republicans would make healthcare less affordable and accessible to many Minnesotans," Dayton said in a statement, adding that the nonpartisan analysis estimates 14 million more Americans would be uninsured in 2018.

"It also would reduce subsidies for low-income, middle-income, and older Minnesotans," Dayton said. "Greater Minnesota would be hit the hardest, because the Republican tax credit does not recognize that healthcare costs more in some parts of our state."

Dayton said the state could stand to lose as much as $2 billion in federal funding for Medicaid in the first 18 months, putting coverage at risk for 1.2 million Minnesota seniors, children and people with disabilities.

The DFL governor urged Congress and state lawmakers to reject plans that would reduce health insurance coverage.

"Changes are needed, at both the state and federal level, to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to Minnesotans, not less," Dayton said.