April 9, 2026
On April 9, the House Taxes Committee heard legislation focused on supporting the financial stability and ongoing operations of Hennepin Healthcare.
HF 4841 (Agbaje, DFL – Minneapolis) extends and increases an existing Hennepin County sales tax (originally implemented to fund Target Field) and redirects the revenue to support Hennepin Healthcare. The current 0.15% “ballpark tax” is nearing sunset as stadium debt is paid off earlier than expected. The proposal would increase the tax (potentially up to 1%) and redirect upwards of $350 million to stabilizing hospital operations.
Supporters of the bill emphasized that Hennepin Healthcare serves a disproportionate share of uninsured and underinsured patients and plays a central role in ensuring access to care regardless of ability to pay. Leveraging an existing funding stream allows the state to preserve this safety-net function without relying solely on property taxes or other funding sources.
The MMA submitted a letter of support for HF 4841, highlighting the system’s essential role in patient care, emergency services, and physician training. The MMA noted that maintaining Hennepin Healthcare’s capacity is critical not only for patients in the Twin Cities, but also for those across Greater Minnesota who rely on timely access to specialized care.
In 2024, Hennepin Healthcare absorbed $104 million in uncompensated care, including $24 million for patients from outside Hennepin County. Federal policy changes, including House Resolution 1, are also projected to add to financial strains, potentially resulting in an estimated $1.7 billion in losses over the next 10 years.
June 11, 2026
The MMA has joined a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL) against MultiPlan (recently rebranded to Claritev) and major insurers, including UnitedHealth, Elevance, Humana, Aetna, and Cigna, alleging that they conspired to systematically underpay healthcare practitioners for reimbursements for out-of-network services, which often fail to cover operating costs.
June 11, 2026
On June 9, the University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Physicians (UMP) and Fairview Health Services finalized an agreement on funding for the university's healthcare programs, including the medical school.
June 11, 2026
A federal judge on June 8 nixed the Trump administration's $100,000 price tag on new H-1B visas, saying the fee is a tax and that only Congress can create new taxes.