Today nurses with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) gathered at the Minnesota State Capitol to testify and stand in solidarity as the House began hearing legislation to save Hennepin County Medical Center—a critical safety-net hospital and the state’s busiest Level 1 trauma center.
At this point in the legislative session, there have been two bills introduced to save the hospital. Both the Stadium Tax Bill (HF4841/SF4986) and a different Hennepin County Sales Tax Bill (HF4849), were introduced on Tuesday.
Jeremy Olson-Ehlert, MNA Second Vice President and HCMC Registered Nurse testified before the House Taxes Committee in support of legislation to save Hennepin County Medical Center, marking the first hearing this session of any proposal aimed at stabilizing the hospitals finances. The Stadium Tax Bill would repurpose the Hennepin County sales tax previously dedicated to Target Field but also allow for ballpark related investments.
MNA believes HF4849, authored by Chair Gomez is a stronger and more straightforward approach that prioritizes funding for the hospital without additional ballpark and capital improvement grants. Nurses urge Chair Gomez to hold a hearing on HF4849 as soon as possible.
“We are grateful for the careful attention to this issue by Representative Agbaje, Chair Gomez, and Chair Davids, and for your commitment to something sustainable. You can add MNA to the long list of groups who do not want to be back here again next year, having this same discussion about a long-term solution, simply because one-time funding was easier to get done,” said Jeremy Olson-Ehlert, MNA Second Vice President and registered nurse at HCMC. “Kicking the can down the road creates immense uncertainty, and for a hospital that already pays its bedside RNs less than in private hospitals, one-time funding will not provide workers with much certainty or confidence – which will undoubtedly have a significant impact on worker retention and recruitment.”
MNA will continue to support all viable legislation that will provide long-term funding for HCMC to protect vulnerable patients, support healthcare workers, and strengthen Minnesota’s healthcare infrastructure.
