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You may have seen the recent news coverage about Hennepin Healthcare and HCMC. I want to give you the full picture of what's happening, why, and what the county is doing about it.
Hennepin County Medical Center is one of Minnesota's most critical healthcare resources. It is one of the state's busiest Level I trauma center, home to our only burn unit and hyperbaric chamber, and the largest employer in downtown Minneapolis. It services everyone, regardless of ability to pay, which is exactly what a public safety-net hospital should do.
But that mission comes with real financial pressure. Like many safety-net hospitals nationally, HCMC has been hit by a combination of declining Medicaid reimbursements, the closure of UCare, and rising costs. The county board took direct oversight of the system last year to get ahead of these challenges, and we've already taken significant steps to stabilize operations, including restructuring departments, reducing costs, and refocusing the system on long-term sustainability.
Here’s the core issue: HCMC’s financial crisis reflects the structural realities of operating a public safety-net and Level I trauma center.
Rising levels of uncompensated care and the effects of federal policy changes are widening the gap between the actual cost of providing care and the reimbursement we receive. Seventy‑five percent of our patients are enrolled in Medicare or Medicaid, and more than $100M in care was provided without compensation last year alone.
We also provide 24/7 access to advanced specialty care that many communities cannot maintain locally. That regional role is central to our mission, but it also means we carry the cost of maintaining high-acuity capacity for the entire state.
Ultimately, Hennepin County is 100% responsible for the hospital’s debts, and property taxes cannot sustain this lifesaving institution. If we do not find a legislative solution to these funding shortfalls, HCMC will close.
Hennepin County is seeking legislative approval to extend our existing ballpark sales tax and dedicate the revenue to sustaining Hennepin Healthcare (HCMC). The financial challenges have been highlighted in statewide news coverage for several months, including this recent MPR News report.
As we retire the debt from building Target Field, these funds are urgently needed to stabilize Minnesota’s only public safety-net hospital and one of the state’s busiest Level I trauma centers, serving patients from across Minnesota and the upper Midwest.
A bill is being drafted and is expected to be introduced shortly. I encourage you to contact your state legislators and urge them to support this proposal.
While many of us live or work in Hennepin County, this legislation will require support from legislators across the state to succeed. Hennepin Healthcare’s future will not be decided by Hennepin County alone.
If you have friends, family members, or colleagues who live outside our county, please consider sharing this information with them and encouraging them to contact their lawmakers as well. What happens during this legislative session will shape access to trauma and safety-net care in Minnesota for years to come.
We're only two months into 2026 and I've already visited Plymouth, Loretto and Medina's city councils to give an update about the county's work and what we have to look forward to.
Upcoming City Council Update:
- Minnetrista City Council Meeting, March 16th at 6:30pm at the Minnetrista City Hall
I'll be holding a few town halls across District 7 this year, and my first one is in Maple Plain. I hope you'll be able to join me for some good coffee and a conversation.
Date: Saturday, March 7th
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Location: Maple Plain Library, 5184 Main Street East, Maple Plain
Please email District Director Clara Severson with any questions at clara.severson@hennepin.us.
The Hennepin County Youth Activities Grants (HCYAG) program provides funding for youth activities to local government units and organizations within Hennepin County. Funded through proceeds from the Twins ballpark sales tax, this program has supported community youth programming since 2009.
The deadline to apply for the spring grant cycle is Thursday, March 12th, 2026.
If your city of organization serves young people, this could be a great opportunity. Learn more at hennepin.us/hennepin-youth-grants.
On February 3, National Missing Persons Day, the Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office announced a new initiative and asked for the public’s help.
Long considered cold cases, some deceased individuals investigated by the Medical Examiner’s Office have waited decades for an identification. Now, thanks to technology and genealogy advances, and the power of modern communication tools to reach the public, there is renewed hope of giving each individual a name and bringing closure to families.
The office received a federal grant from the Bureau of Justice Administration to do this work, which is being led by Dr. Jessica Campbell, the only board-certified forensic anthropologist in the state.
“We’re doing this because everyone deserves a name,” Dr. Campbell said. “It may have taken some years to get here, but we have technology and identification techniques now that just weren’t an option when some of the original death investigations began. We want the families who have been waiting for answers to know that we never forgot and we will do everything we can to return your loved ones.”
There are currently more than 150 cases categorized as unidentified persons in the Medical Examiner’s Office, with more coming in.
Fact sheets for the first five individuals have been published and we are seeking the public’s help in identifying them. Anyone with information is asked to call the Medical Examiner’s Office or one of the partner agencies listed on the case fliers.
NorthPoint is here to partner with you. If you cannot come in-person, you have options:
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We offer phone and video visits for most types of appointments. Call 612-543-2500 to check your options.
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Need a prescription? Send someone to our Pharmacy to pick it up for you. They'll need payment, your date of birth, and your address.
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Need groceries? Send someone to our Food Shelf to pick them up for you. They'll need the number of people who live in your home.
If you have questions or need additional assistance, call 612-543-2500
Looking to reduce waste, save money, and build community? Hennepin County's new Swap-It events are free themed swap meets where you can bring gentle used items you no longer need and take things home you can use, all for free!
Upcoming Swap-It Events:
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Kitchen Gadgets Swap
Saturday, February 28th
12pm - 2:30pm (early drop-off at 11am)
Ridgedale Library, Minnetonka
Bring air fryers, cookware, utensils, dishes, coffee makers, food storage, linens, and more.
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Toys Swap
Saturday, March 21st
12pm - 2:30pm (early drop-off at 11am)
Edina Fire Station 2, 4401 West 76th St
Bring board games, building toys, dolls, outdoor toys, learning toys, puzzles, and more.
No registration is needed. You don't have to bring items to take items. Everyone is welcome! Leftover items are donated to local reuse organizations. Full details at Swap-It events.
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Hennepin County celebrates 25 years of the Environmental Response Fund (ERF), the county’s brownfield redevelopment program that supports the cleanup and assessment of polluted properties.
This video highlights a few projects ERF funded projects from around Hennepin County where communities were improved by environmental cleanup.
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Juxtaposition Arts (JXTA) in North Minneapolis, which provides public art and a multipurpose skatepark to facilitate youth gathering and exercise.
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Rogers Main Street will soon get new senior affordable housing. The project will help seniors stay in the community as they downsize.
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Mino-Bimaadiziwin means “living the good life” in Ojibwe, and is an affordable housing community built by the Red Lake Band. The Environmental Response Fund (ERF) helped clean up the site in the Minneapolis Native American Cultural Corridor.
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Vista 44 is an affordable housing community in Hopkins. It gives safe homes to people who have experienced homelessness, have disabilities, or live with serious mental illness.
More about the Environmental Response Fund
The ERF program is a catalyst for redevelopment in communities across Hennepin County. Each of the 500 projects supported through these funds has a story to tell like the ones highlighted in the video.
ERF projects spur economic growth and neighborhood revitalization. When comparing property values before and after assessment and cleanup, the completed ERF-aided projects have increased property values by more than $3.4 billion.
ERF projects also support housing development – more than 23,000 new or retained housing units; and jobs – with 25,000 jobs created or retained with these projects.
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Hennepin County offers a variety of funding opportunities to help residents and partners implement projects that protect the environment.
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Provide youth environmental education, encourage youth environmental leadership, and foster environmental action through the Green Partners program.
We recognize that the current surge of federal immigration enforcement is affecting the communities we serve. Our county is committed to supporting you with compassion now and always. Below is a summary of responsive services, partner resources, and county policies and actions.
Eligible households can reconnect to services:
Education
- Education resources, technology and multi-lingual supports (Be at School: 612-438-6041)
Food
- Food assistance (SNAP: 612-596-1300)
- Food assistance for families with children under age 5 (WIC: 612-348-6100)
Health
- Support in a mental health crisis (Cope: 612-596-1223)
- Support for families in crisis (Family Response and Stabilization: 612-979-9511)
- Nurse home visits (Family Home Visiting: 612-348-8687)
- Clinical services including immunizations (Public Health Clinic: 612-543-5555)
- Clinical care for people experiencing homelessness (Health Care for the Homeless: 612-348-5553)
Housing
- Eviction prevention resources (Tenant Resource Connection: 612-767-9737)
- Shelter access (Housing Stability: 612-204-8200)
Income
- Cash assistance (Economic Supports: 612-596-1900)
We offer help in multiple languages. Call Office of Multicultural Services: 612-348-2193.
County federal response | Hennepin County
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Kitchen Gadget Swap: March 6th, 12pm - 2:30pm, Minnetonka
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Pie Day Fundraiser: March 6th, 10am - 1pm, Plymouth
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Family Glow Party: March 6th, 6:30pm - 8:30pm, Champlin
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Rock Your Socks 2026: March 21st, 9:30am - 12pm, Maple Grove
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Discover Plymouth: March 21st, 9am - 1pm, Plymouth
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Toy Swap: March 21st, 12pm - 2:30pm, Edina
Q: Why did the Hennepin County snowplow break up with the salt truck?
A: Because their relationship was on thin ice.
The 7th District serves the cities of
Champlin, Corcoran, Dayton, Greenfield, Independence, Loretto, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Medina, Minnetrista, Southern Mound, Rogers,
St. Bonifacius, Hanover, Northwest Plymouth, and Rockford.
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Contact us
Kevin Anderson
Commissioner, 7th District
Clara Severson
District Director
612-596-9040
Tristan Voegeli
Policy Aide
612-267-0416
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