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Many of you have heard about the resolution coming before the County Board regarding Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS) which includes the Hennepin County Medical Center, our county’s public hospital. HHS is an integrated system of care with a nationally recognized Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center, an acute care hospital and a network of primary care clinics around Hennepin County.
The system is facing a severe financial crisis that threatens its mission and its future. HCMC is Minnesota’s only public safety-net hospital, caring for anyone who comes through its doors, regardless of their ability to pay. That commitment is vital to our community, but it also means that the hospital operates on very thin margins. In recent years, those margins have grown even thinner despite significant financial support from state and county taxpayers.
I will be voting in favor of the resolution the board is considering that would place HHS under interim County Board management. This is not a step I take lightly. My support for this action is based on the need to stabilize the system, ensure fiscal responsibility, and protect both patients and public dollars. Just as important, this would be a temporary measure – a bridge to bring stability, oversight and financial expertise until a sustainable path forward is in place.
If public dollars are used to stabilize HHS, public and transparent oversight are also needed. While we need to respect privacy laws and protect sensitive information, I believe people deserve to know what we can share about the challenges we face and the progress we’re making.
I also believe that this is not about a division between the HHS board and the County Board. If HHS were to fail, there would still be patients in need and fewer places for them to go. The challenges would grow worse, not better. Our job is to focus solely on providing stability to protect this institution and keep care available to everyone who needs it. This action should be temporary, and HHS should be returned to an independent governance system as soon as it is strong enough to stand on its own.
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
Ketki Varsha
Policy Director
612-559-4221
Clara Severson
District Director
612-596-9040
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