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Public Hearings
In June 2021, the Minnesota Legislature passed legislation that requires hospitals and other facilities to notify the public and participate in a public hearing before they do any of the following:
- Close a facility or campus
- Stop offering certain services
- Move certain services to a new location
These services include:
- Maternity care and newborn services
- Intensive care unit services
- Inpatient mental health services or
- Inpatient substance use disorder treatment services
The Minnesota Department of Health works with the facility to host a public hearing as outlined in Minnesota Statutes, section 144.555. This statute gives MDH the authority to hold the meeting and to inform the public but not to change, delay or prevent the proposed changes, closures or relocations.
Hearing information
Hearings are scheduled within 45 days of MDH receiving the notice from the facility, and will include:
- An explanation of the reasons for the proposed changes.
- Actions the facility will take to make sure area residents continue to have access to the services that are being changed.
- Time for the public to make comments and ask questions about the proposed changes.
- Time for the facility representatives to respond to questions.
You can find hearing information on the list below that includes:
- The proposed changes.
- How to attend and participate in the hearing.
- How to submit comments or questions for review.
Upcoming hearings
MDH received notification from the following facilities indicating that they plan to change the services that they are offering. Click the name of the facility to see more detailed information about the hearing.
Lakewood Health System
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. May 14, on Lakewood Health System's cessation of inpatient mental health services in its Medicare-certified behavioral health unit.
Previous hearings
Information about hearings that occurred more than a year ago has been removed from our website, but is still available via submission of a Data Practices Request.
Mahnomen Health Center
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. April 30, on Mahnomen Health Center’s transition to Rural Emergency Hospital. Rural emergency hospitals do not have inpatient or swing beds.
Allina Mercy Hospital
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a public hearing on March 26 at 6 p.m. on the relocation of Mercy Hospital Unity Campus (Fridley) intensive care services to the Mercy Campus (Coon Rapids), the relocation of Unity Campus surgical services to the Mercy Campus and the closure of the inpatient pediatric unit at Mercy Campus.
Lake Region Healthcare
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a public hearing on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. on Lake Region Healthcare’s closure of its voluntary admission inpatient mental health unit in Fergus Falls.
Mayo New Prague
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a public hearing on Feb. 6, 2024, at 6 p.m. (via Teams) on Mayo Clinic Health System New Prague ending labor and delivery services.
Essentia Health-Fosston
The Minnesota Department of Health will host a public hearing on January 30, 2024, at 6 p.m. (via Teams) on the planned closure of the Labor and Delivery services unit at Essentia Health-Fosston.
Sanford Bemidji Medical Center
The Minnesota Department of Health will host a public hearing on January 17, 2024, at 6 p.m. (via Teams) on Sanford Bemidji Medical Center’s planned closure of its inpatient rehabilitation unit.
Allina Health United Hospital
The Minnesota Department of Health will host a public hearing on December 21, 2023, at 6 p.m. (via Teams) on the relocation of adolescent mental health beds from Allina Health United Hospital in St. Paul to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
New Ulm Medical Center
The Minnesota Department of Health will host a public hearing on October 11, 2023, at 6 p.m. (via Teams) on the New Ulm Medical Center's planned closure of its residential addiction services unit in New Ulm.