Hennepin Healthcare warns HCMC could shut without Target Field tax rescue
Hennepin Healthcare says Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) lost more than $100 million in 2024 treating many patients who cannot pay and is urging state lawmakers to redirect Target Field sales tax revenue from stadium debt service to keep the hospital open, warning that without such a rescue the county would begin a 12–18 month shutdown process by May that would itself cost about $100 million. County leaders and Sen. Alice Mann warn a closure would overwhelm ERs statewide and could cause patient deaths — underscoring HCMC’s role as the backstop for complex, unfunded transfers from rural and smaller hospitals — even as Hennepin Healthcare plans a new $12 million downtown Minneapolis addiction center.
📌 Key Facts
- Hennepin Healthcare lost more than $100 million in 2024, largely because HCMC treats many patients who cannot pay.
- Hennepin County is formally asking state lawmakers to redirect Target Field sales tax revenue from stadium debt service to keep HCMC open.
- Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde said if lawmakers don't agree by May, the county would begin a 12–18 month shutdown process for HCMC that itself would cost about $100 million.
- Sen. Alice Mann, an emergency physician, warned that a HCMC shutdown would cause patient deaths and leave emergency rooms across the state full.
- County leaders emphasize that HCMC serves as the backstop for complex, unfunded cases transferred in from rural and smaller hospitals statewide.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2022, 17% of Hispanic or Latino/a adults in Hennepin County lacked health insurance, compared to 5% of all adults in the county.
Community health assessment, 2024 — Hennepin County
In 2022, 12% of American Indian or Alaska Native adults in Hennepin County lacked health insurance, compared to 5% of all adults in the county.
Community health assessment, 2024 — Hennepin County
In 2022, 8% of Black or African American adults in Hennepin County lacked health insurance, compared to 5% of all adults in the county.
Community health assessment, 2024 — Hennepin County
Black/African Americans account for 13% of Minnesota Medicaid enrollees compared to 7% of the general population.
Building Racial Equity into the Walls of Minnesota Medicaid — City of Minneapolis
In 2023, Hennepin County welcomed 1,123 refugees, with nearly half being Somali.
Community health assessment, 2024 — Hennepin County
Between 2018-2022, 174,102 residents of Hennepin County (14% of the population) were born outside the United States.
Community health assessment, 2024 — Hennepin County
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Hennepin Healthcare lost more than $100 million in 2024 alone, largely because HCMC treats many patients who cannot pay.
- Hennepin County is formally asking state lawmakers to redirect Target Field sales tax revenue from stadium debt service to keep HCMC open.
- Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde says if lawmakers don’t agree by May, the county would begin a 12–18 month HCMC shutdown process that itself would cost about $100 million.
- Sen. Alice Mann, an emergency physician, publicly warned that if HCMC shuts down, "we will see patient deaths" and ERs across the state will be full.
- County leaders emphasize HCMC’s role as the backstop for complex, unfunded cases transferred in from rural and smaller hospitals statewide.