HCMC Remains Open! (The People Saved the Public Hospital)
We all have an HCMC story. Maybe you were born there. Maybe your friend's first job was there. Maybe your cousin received life-saving care there. Your stories are why we fought, and thanks to you, HCMC remains open. While there’s much more we must do together in the months and years to come - this fight has won us material funding to stabilize the last public safety net health system in the upper midwest, and it matters enormously.
This statement follows a series of statements from my office about what’s happening with HCMC.
The Big Legislative Win
The Minnesota Legislature passed a bipartisan deal that sends $205 million in immediate funding to HCMC and creates a $500 million hospital reserve account usable by HCMC over the next five years.
Earlier this year, there was real closure risk for HCMC in 2026. Today, that is off the table. Thanks to every single person, news story, phone call, op/ed, and video - HCMC remains open! The only public safety-net hospital in the upper Midwest will continue to care for every person who walks through its doors, regardless of insurance, income, or circumstance. That is a profound win.
I want to say thank you. To every legislator who fought for this and cast a yes vote. To Governor Walz. To the workers at HCMC who organized, testified, and refused to be invisible. To every Minnesotan who called, emailed, showed up, or shared their HCMC story. You did this. Thank you!
Watch my comments at the Governor’s Press Conference on May 20, 2026.
The Importance of a Public HCMC
Minnesotans have always known that strong public goods create strong communities. And at Hennepin County, we hold a simple but profound belief: access to health services is a human right, not a privilege. Never something reserved for the fortunate or the few. Every resident deserves dignity, healing, the chance to live a full and healthy life, and importantly – the opportunity to grow old.
Healthcare is a fundamental service our governments must deliver, because the health and well-being of all Minnesotans is interconnected. Here in Minnesota, no matter who you are, where you live, whether you are visiting, no matter the state of your bank account or your personal background — you are deserving of service that provides world-class care from world-class workers. What the legislature passed protects that promise.
What makes HCMC irreplaceable is that we do not turn anyone away. That is only possible because HCMC is a public hospital, accountable to this community. You can call us, you can show up, you can vote – and you can influence the outcome.
The Future Work
We must now build a healthcare ecosystem that’s durable and will survive for generations to come. HCMC can be the cornerstone of a better care system that every Minnesotan can access, regardless of where they live or what they earn. This win gives us the stability to plan toward that future with intention rather than desperation.
This work is not finished. We will still need to work across the state to address the revenue replacement needed for our hospitals following HR1. Nobody deserves the communal pain of more hospital and clinic closures, and the threat of federal Medicaid cuts will keep demanding our attention. We'll need you with us for that fight.
But today we celebrate! HCMC is open. Our nurses, trauma teams, translators, researchers, and the 7,000+ workers who show up every single day to care for our most vulnerable neighbors will continue to serve the community. In order to achieve our collective mission of healthy, vibrant communities - we must continue to invest in these incredible workers, their families, and our shared future.
HCMC's doors remain open as a public institution, accountable to the public it serves. Let's make sure they stay that way. Your continued interest, feedback, and perspectives remain essential as we collectively construct the path ahead.
Please stay in touch with my office by emailing Brandon Schorsch at brandon.schorsch@hennepin.us.