Senate lawmaker says supplemental budget will target struggling hospitals, including HCMC

A Senate lawmaker said the Legislature's supplemental budget will direct substantial resources to hospitals struggling because of last summer's federal budget action, singling out HCMC and rural facilities for immediate attention.

"Nearly half of that budget is in response to, the passage of the federal budget bill last July, the thing that the president likes to call the big beautiful bill," the lawmaker said, linking federal changes to rising hospital shortfalls and broader pressure on the health-care delivery system.

The lawmaker said the Senate plans to use the short session to "address some of those needs for the people of Minnesota, to make their life more affordable and to fulfill our commitment to them," and invited further questions on specifics.

When asked about targeted proposals, the lawmaker pointed to a Health and Human Services bill carried by "Senator Wicklund" that would create an uncompensated-care fund for hospitals in distress. The lawmaker also said Senator Wicklund's proposal includes a funding figure "somewhere around $50,000,000," but framed the number as that member's proposal rather than a finalized appropriation.

The lawmaker cautioned that HCMC must be considered in context of the statewide hospital system: "It is a critical facility, but part of a larger health hospital system in the state that is struggling," they said, adding the Senate will consider the facility as part of broader health-system responses.

Next steps: the lawmaker said the supplemental will be developed over the coming weeks of the short session and that the Senate intends to press Congress on federal policy while using available state tools to help hospitals now.

The lawmaker closed by reiterating the Senate's focus on hospital stability and thanking reporters for questions.