Mayo Clinic Threatens to Pull Investments in Minnesota Over Health Care Proposals
Key Highlights :
The Mayo Clinic is threatening to pull its investments in Minnesota if lawmakers don't make significant changes to two healthcare proposals being discussed in the state's legislature. In emails obtained by WCCO, Mayo Clinic says the only path to maintaining investments is by amending two provisions in the Health and Human Services omnibus bill.
The healthcare provider asks for the removal of the Health Care Affordability Board and significant amendments to the Keeping Nurses at the Bedside Act (KNABA). According to the Mayo Clinic, the discussed investments represent four times the size of the investment in U.S. Bank Stadium and would provide "excellent" jobs for Minnesotans.
The Mayo Clinic calls the Health Care Affordability Board "extremely problematic." It says Mayo is willing to discuss alternative approaches but will withhold its funding unless the current proposal is removed completely. The other proposal Mayo Clinic takes issue with is the KNABA, which it says will only harm patients. It requests an amendment to the act that includes a path to full exemption from the bill's requirements for systems such as Mayo's.
The KNABA has been praised by the Minnesota Nurses Association while concerning some with the Minnesota Hospital Association because of a staffing formula amid a healthcare worker shortage. They say the formula isn't tailored to individual patient needs, which would negatively affect their care.
Rep. Sandra Feis, the House author of the bill, says that Mayo Clinic didn't request the exemption until this week. "The exemption that Mayo proposes would exempt, in essence, every hospital in Minnesota," Feis said. "This would make the bill meaningless and is a non-starter. Mayo has thus far refused to provide more reasonable language to address the clear concerns I expressed during our most recent meeting before they cut off communication."
The Minnesota House and Senate both passed their own versions of a health omnibus bill last month. A conference committee will reconcile the bills. In the email sent Wednesday evening, Mayo Clinic says the issue is "time-sensitive" and must be resolved within the next few days.
The Mayo Clinic addressed the controversy in a statement on Friday: "We've always supported making sure that our nurses are supported, have what they need. We also understand that Mayo Clinic's a unique entity where it's focusing globally on it," Gov. Tim Walz said about the emails. "...I think we can get a compromise that works for everyone."
The Mayo Clinic's demands for changes to the Health and Human Services omnibus bill are significant and could have a major impact on the state's healthcare system. The removal of the Health Care Affordability Board and an exemption from the KNABA's requirements could mean more resources for healthcare providers and a better quality of care for patients.
However, the Minnesota House and Senate have yet to reach an agreement on the issue and the Mayo Clinic has given a deadline for the resolution of the issue. It remains to be seen if the two sides will be able to come to a compromise that satisfies both parties.
The WCCO Staff is a group of experienced journalists who bring you the content on WCCO.com.
