MHA Healthline

The Minnesota Senate passed a $150 million, two year rescue plan for HCMC this week, and included nearly $140 million in aid for other state hospitals. Alternative plans in the House are still unclear. Also, the Trump administration says it will freeze yet more Medicaid funding for the state following nearly two dozen fraud-related FBI raids around the Twin Cities this week. And a new "organ manufacturing" facility is about to come on line near Stewartville.  

This week: A response to the financial crisis at HCMC is starting to run out the clock at the Capitol; Gov. Tim Walz says Democrats have to come up with a health care solution to win; the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee hears about plans for a new state pediatric mental health facility and Minnesota hospitals counted up more than $6 billion in community benefit last year. Also, an influencial conservative health think tank is taking aim at federal site-neutral payments.

The dire financial situation at Hennepin Healthcare dominated the health news in Minnesota this week, as lawmakers tried to figure out how to fill a $200 million budget gap at the hospital for 2026 -- lest the key care provider close. Also, scrutiny is growing on the University of Minnesota, even after likely resolution of the wind down of its existing partnership with Fairview. Pressure builds at Capitol to rescue HCMC 'People will die': What we know about the plan to save HCMC House GOP pushes for property tax relief, as DFLers push for hospitals, schools Why the U spent $23 million on health care consultants  U of M faculty and alumni decry 'administrative bloat,' despite budget cuts 

In this week's episode, a bill to boost the 340B drug discount program in the state got bi-partisan approval in the Minnesota Senate; the House tax committee started work on a financial rescue plan for Hennepin Healthcare, and providers in St. Paul highlighted the dangers they're seeing among kids riding electric scooters and bikes. Also, a new KFF analysis found a statistically significant rise in the number of uninsured in Minnesota in 2024 -- bigger than in most of the rest of the country. And federal officials say they're going to cut Medicaid coverage for more immigrants this fall. More coverage: MPR News: State lawmaker discusses proposal to raise sales tax to help HCMC amid financial crisis Star Tribune: Trauma center report surge of e-bike, scooter injuries in Minnesota KFF: Key facts about the uninsured population CMS: Letter on new eligibility for federal financial participation for medicaid for immigrants

This week, nurses, paramedics and other workers held a press conference at the Capitol to plead HCMC's case to lawmakers as financial challenges continue; the Minnesota Department of Human Services has an update on its efforts to get back in good stead with CMS and overhaul Medical Assistance, and a new Gallup poll says that American's worries about the economy were easing in early 2026, with health care a top concern for the first time since the pandemic. More coverage: Hennepin Healthcare workers join push for rescue plan  HCMC leader resigns amid financial challenges and potential closure Medicare payments set to flow again to Minnesota rural hospitals after months of delay Doctors, Allina reach tentative labor contract Trump signs order imposing 100% tariff on brand name drugs Healthcare Reclaims Top Spot Among U.S. Domestic Worries

This week, word that CMS is looking approvingly at the anti-fraud measures Minnesota offered in response to a threatened Medicaid funding freeze -- although some small Minnesota health care providers say they haven't been paid for months by Medicare. Also, the legislature debated GLP-1 coverage for Medical Assistance beneficiaries, and kept it -for now. Also, there may not be just one "Big Beautiful Bill"; Congress is weighing another. More coverage: Federal officials signal they won't cut Minnesota Medicaid funds  Medicaid freeze could lead to Minnesota hospitals closing psychiatric units Medicare billing snafu drives new financial woes for Minnesota rural hospitals  Congress is weighing more big health care cuts  Minnesota House weighs new social media regulations for kids  Medical Assistance coverage of weight loss drugs can continue for now 

Unpaid care at Minnesota hospitals rose nearly a third in 2024, a new report from the Minnesota Department of Health told lawmakers this week. And that's before a spike in uninsured patients MDH reported for 2025 and a new poll that says nearly 1 in 10 Affordable Care Act market enrollees in the U.S.  last year are now without any insurance at all. Also, Gov. Tim Walz rolled out a new child care tax credit proposal aimed at helping working parents. That and more in this week's edition of Healthline from the Minnesota Hospital Association.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Department of Human Services commissioner Shireen Gandhi proposed major changes to how Medicaid works in Minnesota this week. They're trying to convince federal officials that they're responding to widespread fraud allegations, as well as prepare for looming work requirements. Also, the percent of Minnesotans without health insurance was creeping up, even before pandemic-era Affordable Care Act subsidies expired. Plus, a new poll says a third of Americans are cutting back on the rest of their lives as they shift spending to health care. That and more in this week's edition of Healthline from the Minnesota Hospital Association.

This week: Minnesota governor Tim Walz and attorney general Keith Ellison got a grilling before the House Oversight committee in Washington, and CMS director Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested a focus on fraud will be turning to New York State soon. Also, a new report on the 340B drug discount program got an airing at the Capitol, and a new Rand Report looks at the financial impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill on Minnesota.

This week: President Donald Trump made allegations of social services fraud in Minnesota one of the keynotes of his 2026 State of the Union address, although he also mentioned drug prices and health care price transparency. Also, Hennepin Healthcare told the Minnesota Senate it was in dire straights and at risk of closing without a financial lifeline.

This week: The legislature is back and already looking at health matters, and we're getting a look at the impact of the end of pandemic-era ACA subsidies in Minnesota.  Host: Tim Nelson, Minnesota Hospital Association

Officials at Hennepin Healthcare started the week with some warnings about the financial difficulties at HCMC, and followed with some substantial cut backs announced later in the week. Also, border czar Tom Homan announced a roll back on Operation Metro Surge and denied agents were looking for immigrants in health care settings -- but didn't rule that out. Also, more federal funding battles between Minnesota and the Trump administration.