Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) enjoys a reputation as one of the foremost publicly-owned teaching hospitals in the nation. At the same time, HCMC wins community praise as the only area hospital that provides quality care to all who seek it, regardless of health insurance or ability to pay.
Unions, community advocates, and at least two county commissioners fear that a proposed governance change could ultimately threaten HCMC?s mission to provide care for all and upset current worker protections.
The proposal would create a new "public benefit corporation" to manage HCMC, a move that would require state legislative approval. Under the proposal, a separate, appointed board would be created to relieve the elected Hennepin County Board from direct management of HCMC. The new hospital board would not be subject to state open meeting requirements. While the new board would assume significant decision making power for HCMC, the Hennepin County board would retain specific oversight responsibilities.
"What you lose in my mind is the direct public accountability," said County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. "A lot of the decisions would be in the hands of a quasi-public board that doesn?t face election every four years."
McLaughlin expressed fears that submitting the new governance proposal to the state Legislature exposes the plan to unforeseen changes, "late at night when the amendments start flying."
McLaughlin and other critics of the proposal also fear it could lead to privatizing HCMC, noting what happened to Region?s Hospital in St. Paul, which in two years went from a public hospital to quasi-public to a private hospital.
"I am not interested in selling or privatizing the hospital," said Hennepin County Board Chair Randy Johnson.
"HCMC like other large public teaching hospitals is facing huge financial pressures right now," he added. "If we don?t make changes in how we operate, the possibility of having to sell it could be a possibility in as soon as four or five years. I don?t want that to happen."
Advocates for the proposal believe a new hospital board, selected for expertise in the health care business, could help HCMC operate more efficiently and flexibly in a competitive market.
"My fear is that the Hennepin County Board will be asked to make a decision before we?ve had adequate feedback from the employees or the community," said County Commissioner Gail Dorfman, who questions the plan.
The Hennepin County Board plans to hear public comment on the HCMC governance plan Nov. 30, with a vote likely Dec. 14. AFSCME urged phone calls to county commissioners to express concern about the plan.
For more information
Visit the Minneapolis CLUC website, www.minneapolisunions.org
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Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) enjoys a reputation as one of the foremost publicly-owned teaching hospitals in the nation. At the same time, HCMC wins community praise as the only area hospital that provides quality care to all who seek it, regardless of health insurance or ability to pay.
Unions, community advocates, and at least two county commissioners fear that a proposed governance change could ultimately threaten HCMC?s mission to provide care for all and upset current worker protections.
The proposal would create a new “public benefit corporation” to manage HCMC, a move that would require state legislative approval. Under the proposal, a separate, appointed board would be created to relieve the elected Hennepin County Board from direct management of HCMC. The new hospital board would not be subject to state open meeting requirements. While the new board would assume significant decision making power for HCMC, the Hennepin County board would retain specific oversight responsibilities.
“What you lose in my mind is the direct public accountability,” said County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. “A lot of the decisions would be in the hands of a quasi-public board that doesn?t face election every four years.”
McLaughlin expressed fears that submitting the new governance proposal to the state Legislature exposes the plan to unforeseen changes, “late at night when the amendments start flying.”
McLaughlin and other critics of the proposal also fear it could lead to privatizing HCMC, noting what happened to Region?s Hospital in St. Paul, which in two years went from a public hospital to quasi-public to a private hospital.
“I am not interested in selling or privatizing the hospital,” said Hennepin County Board Chair Randy Johnson.
“HCMC like other large public teaching hospitals is facing huge financial pressures right now,” he added. “If we don?t make changes in how we operate, the possibility of having to sell it could be a possibility in as soon as four or five years. I don?t want that to happen.”
Advocates for the proposal believe a new hospital board, selected for expertise in the health care business, could help HCMC operate more efficiently and flexibly in a competitive market.
“My fear is that the Hennepin County Board will be asked to make a decision before we?ve had adequate feedback from the employees or the community,” said County Commissioner Gail Dorfman, who questions the plan.
The Hennepin County Board plans to hear public comment on the HCMC governance plan Nov. 30, with a vote likely Dec. 14. AFSCME urged phone calls to county commissioners to express concern about the plan.
For more information
Visit the Minneapolis CLUC website, www.minneapolisunions.org