Hospitals/Health Systems Infused Minnesota Communities with $3.4 Billion in 2021

August 10, 2023

The Minnesota Hospital Association reported on August 9 that Minnesota hospitals and health systems contributed $3.4 billion in programs and services in 2021 to benefit the health of their communities.    

“Minnesota hospitals and health systems are, true to their mission, committed to addressing basic needs that contribute to overall well-being in their communities.” said Rahul Koranne, MD, president and CEO, MHA. “Despite their own continuing workforce and financial crises, these organizations are the safety nets of their communities and are working both inside and out of their hospitals to address factors that influence the current and future overall health of Minnesotans.”    

The MHA Community Benefit Report details a variety of community health investments that were made to improve the health of Minnesotans, including:  

• Investing in community health activities such as public health campaigns, vaccine clinics, and mental health education,  

• Bridging access to care, such as pediatric dental services, substance use disorder interventions, food and housing programs, and transportation services,  

• Finding innovative ways to educate the public on health inequities and disparities,   

• Forging workforce programs and partnerships with area colleges and universities to grow the future healthcare workforce.  

To improve the health of their communities, Minnesota hospitals and health systems reported providing:  

• $1.8 billion to subsidize government reimbursements that were less than the actual cost of providing care for those on Medicare and Medicaid,  

• $655 million in uncompensated care services (bad debt and charity care),   

• $4.06 million in community services to address specific community health needs, such as health screenings, health education, health fairs, subsidized health services, and other community outreach programs,  

• $197 million in education and workforce development, including training for doctors, nurses, and other highly skilled healthcare professionals,  

• $16 million in research to support the development of better medical treatments and find cures for diseases.   

The report reflects FY 2021 financial information – the most recent data available – reported by Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems and supplemented with data reported to the Minnesota Department of Health. The annual report comprises an analysis of categories of community contribution activities on a statewide and regional basis.