Minnesota Lawmaker Proposes Using Hospital Tax To Fill Charity Care Gap By Jeremy Olson, The Minnesota Star Tribune May 15, 2026

https://kffhealthnews.org/health-care-costs/minnesota-hospitals-charity-care-tax-legislation/?utm_campaign=KHN%3A%20First%20Edition&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8QHMhU5Qu6EjPkylONLHavE1jGdB47Ak16DPNWVjfO5OpFbqGCnDcgNiNW_12XvEbZSBcxIZiIbD5eRBEeiGDLMoXRPA&_hsmi=418930543&utm_content=418930543&utm_source=hs_email KFF Health News: Minnesota Lawmaker Proposes Using Hospital Tax To Fill Charity Care Gap Minnesota lawmakers are wrestling with how to sustain the state’s financially distressed hospitals while patients confront growing medical debt. One Minnesota lawmaker wants to steer money from an existing healthcare tax back to hospitals so they can expand their charity care programs for patients who can’t afford their bills. The proposal follows a Minnesota Star Tribune-KFF Health News investigation that found hospitals across the state spend far less on charity care than hospitals in many other states, and use widely different standards to decide who qualifies for free or discounted care. (Olson, 5/15)