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SF 5199

Hennepin Healthcare System Future Structure and Governance Advisory Task Force establishment

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Dibble and 2 co-sponsors

The bill creates a time-bound task force to study and recommend ownership, governance, and sustainable funding options for Hennepin Healthcare, with a final report and possible leg

Referred to Health and Human Services
#healthandhealthdepartment #taskforces
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Bill Summary · SF 5199

Summary: SF 5199 (2025-2026) – Hennepin Healthcare Future Structure and Governance Advisory Task Force

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes the Hennepin Healthcare Future Structure and Governance Advisory Task Force to develop recommendations for the future ownership, governance, and financing structure of Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc. (including HCMC).
  • The task force is to evaluate options that preserve HCMC as a regional and statewide public health and public safety asset, while supporting education and training of Minnesota health professionals.

Key provisions and changes

Task Force creation and scope

  • Creates the Hennepin Healthcare Future Structure and Governance Advisory Task Force with the goal of making recommendations to the Minnesota Legislature.
  • Tasks the group with evaluating ownership, governance, and long-term financing structures for Hennepin Healthcare, including its integrated system of facilities and services.

Composition and leadership

  • The 14-member task force is appointed by the governor and must include:
    • 1 member with expertise in health care sector leadership and state public health systems
    • 3 members with experience in hospital/clinical system operations (specifically safety-net care)
    • 3 members with experience in health care finance and public health insurance programs
    • 2 members with experience in public sector governance/public authorities
    • 3 members representing the health care sector workforce
    • 2 members representing patient and community perspectives (with emphasis on communities disproportionately affected by limited access to care)
  • Governor must appoint all members by August 1, 2026.
  • The appointed members serve until the task force expires.

Organization, meetings, and support

  • A designated member (per Subdivision 2, clause (1)) serves as chair and must convene the first meeting by September 1, 2026.
  • The task force is required to meet at least monthly; additional meetings may be called by the chair.
  • Members do not receive compensation but are reimbursed for expenses as allowed by state law.

Duties and scope of analysis

  • In-depth duties include:
    • Evaluating the current governance structure of Hennepin Healthcare
    • Evaluating governance and ownership models used by comparable hospital systems
    • Evaluating financing and funding mechanisms for sustainable, long-term funding
    • Engaging a broad set of stakeholders across public health, including cities, counties, health systems, labor organizations, patients, community representatives, state agencies, and public finance/governance experts
    • Developing specific recommendations for ownership, governance, sustainable funding, and strategies for any transitions, including a timeline for implementation
  • The task force must consider a full range of ownership and governance models, including regional, multicounty, state, or public authority structures. Evaluations are not limited to ownership by Hennepin County.

Administrative and timeline aspects

  • The Minnesota Department of Health must provide meeting space and administrative support; state agencies may provide technical assistance upon request.
  • Report due date: February 15, 2027. The report must include:
    • Specific recommendations for ownership, governance, and sustainable long-term funding
    • A fiscal analysis of all recommendations
    • A timeline for implementation
    • Draft legislation needed to enact the recommendations
  • Expiration: The task force expires June 30, 2027, or upon submission of the required report, whichever occurs later.

Fiscal note / appropriation

  • An appropriation of $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the general fund to the Commissioner of Health for the task force’s activities.

Affected entities

  • Hennepin Healthcare System, Inc., including Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC)
  • Minnesota state government (Health Department, fiscal committees, and relevant agencies)
  • Public health stakeholders across Minnesota (cities, counties, health systems, labor organizations, patient/community groups)

Effective date

  • The act becomes effective the day after final enactment.

Practical impact and considerations

  • The bill creates a structured, time-bound process to explore alternative ownership and governance options for a major Minnesota health system, with explicit consideration of public health and public safety roles.
  • It invites broad stakeholder input and requires a concrete policy and legislative framework by early 2027.
  • The outcome could influence how Hennepin Healthcare is organized, funded, and governed in the future, potentially including transitions to different ownership or governance arrangements, subject to legislative action guided by the task force’s recommendations.

If you’d like, I can provide a concise one-page briefing with bullet-point takeaways or a side-by-side comparison of potential governance models the task force might evaluate.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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