Financial Pain Still Lurking For Rural Minnesota Hospitals

(Adobe Stock via Minnesota News Connection)

(By Mike Moen. Minnesota News Connection) – There is a scramble in Minnesota to financially rescue a vital hospital in the heart of Minneapolis at risk of closing this spring. At the same time, health policy experts warned similar problems have not gone away for rural hospitals.

Talk of a rescue plan is happening at the Capitol, where lawmakers face calls to keep the doors open at Hennepin County Medical Center. In rural settings, data trackers warn six Minnesota hospitals are at immediate risk of closing in the next two to three years. Last year, Republicans in Washington, D.C., approved a major policy bill including large Medicaid cuts and a special fund meant to spur innovation in rural health systems.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University, said they see little evidence the fund initiative will ease current financial pains.

“While clearly this is an important investment in rural health, it’s not enough money. It’s not even close to (a) one-for-one replacement,” Alker pointed out.