WASHINGTON – Health care has been a contentious topic on Capitol Hill lately, and Minnesota's congressional delegation split along party lines when a measure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act passed the House this month.

But last week all 10 members of Minnesota's congressional delegation found a reason to pull together, signing a letter requesting that the U.S. Departments of Treasury and Health and Human Services expedite consideration of Minnesota's application for a waiver they say will help the state stabilize its individual health care market.

Lawmakers say that approval of the waiver will put the state in a better position to fund and implement the Minnesota Premium Security Plan (MPSP), a state-based reinsurance program. The state Legislature created the program this year to stem large premium increases for individual purchasers.

"This is particularly important to our rural and underserved areas, where it is critical that we reduce future rate increases, encourage consumer enrollment, preserve insurer participation, and expand access to affordable healthcare," Minnesota's lawmakers wrote.

Lawmakers noted in the letter that approval of the waiver was needed soon, as health plans get ready to propose individual market rates for 2018. The waiver would allow Minnesota to obtain partial federal funding for the MPSP and protect federal dollars for the MinnesotaCare public insurance program.

MAYA RAO