Minneapolis Medical Center Faces Closure, Urges State Legislative Action
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), Minnesota's critical safety-net hospital and Level 1 trauma center, faces imminent closure due to severe financial instability. Projections indicate $50 million in operating losses for 2026 and a staggering $1.7 billion deficit over the next decade. The crisis is exacerbated by unpaid debts from insurer UCare ($115 million) and rising costs for treating uninsured patients. Hospital leaders and union representatives are urgently calling for state legislative intervention before the May 18 session deadline. A proposed solution involves converting a 0.15% sales tax currently funding the Minnesota Twins stadium into a 1% tax to generate approximately $340 million annually for HCMC. Without immediate action, the hospital plans to close in June, which would overwhelm other regional trauma centers and leave thousands of Minnesotans without essential care.
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Minneapolis Medical Center Faces Closure, Urges State Legislative Action
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC), Minnesota's critical safety-net hospital and Level 1 trauma center, faces imminent closure due to severe financial instability. Projections indicate $50 million in operating losses for 2026 and a staggering $1.7 billion deficit over the next decade. The crisis is exacerbated by unpaid debts from insurer UCare ($115 million) and rising costs for treating uninsured patients. Hospital leaders and union representatives are urgently calling for state legislative intervention before the May 18 session deadline. A proposed solution involves converting a 0.15% sales tax currently funding the Minnesota Twins stadium into a 1% tax to generate approximately $340 million annually for HCMC. Without immediate action, the hospital plans to close in June, which would overwhelm other regional trauma centers and leave thousands of Minnesotans without essential care.
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