Overview
- Minnesota lawmakers are debating two main fixes for Hennepin Healthcare’s budget crisis, including a higher Hennepin County sales tax and a statewide hospital stabilization program.
- A move to a 1% county sales tax would have generated $337 million last year, according to the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
- A separate Senate bill would raise the county rate only to 0.25% to produce about $85 million a year, with set shares for Target Field upgrades, North Memorial trauma services, and HCMC.
- The statewide plan would open aid to all hospitals and create a targeted stabilization grant for Hennepin Healthcare, with lawmakers also considering up to $150 million in one-time state grants.
- Hennepin Healthcare reports more than $100 million a year in unpaid care and a $50 million deficit, and hospital leaders, including North Memorial’s CEO, warn trauma access will erode without fast public funding.