Saint Paul, Minn. – Minnesota’s non-profit hospitals and health systems are built on a simple but profound commitment: caring for the whole patient and strengthening the entire community. That commitment was on full display in 2023, as hospitals and health systems invested $6.2 billion in programs and services designed to improve the health and well-being of Minnesotans, according to the latest Community Impact Report from the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA).
These investments extend far beyond hospital walls. They address the root causes of illness, expand access to care, and ensure that every Minnesotan, regardless of their ability to pay, receives the care they need.
“Minnesota’s non-profit hospitals and health systems exist to serve—not just by treating illness, but by creating healthier lives and stronger communities,” said Dr. Rahul Koranne, president and CEO of MHA. “Our hospitals provide essential care, advance medical research, train the next generation of caregivers, and address urgent social challenges like housing and food insecurity. And they continue to do all of this, despite facing some of the most severe workforce and financial pressures in recent history.”
Community Benefit: More Than Health Care, A Lifeline for Minnesotans
Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems are deeply embedded in their communities, responding to urgent needs and investing in long-term health solutions, including:
- Advancing life-changing research to bring groundbreaking treatments to patients.
- Expanding access to healthy food and stable housing, which are key drivers of community health.
- Increasing access to care by addressing health disparities ensuring all Minnesotans receive the right care at the right time.
- Training the caregivers of the future, launching career pathway programs in high schools and higher education to build a strong health care workforce.
These investments from Minnesota’s non-profit hospitals and health systems form the bedrock upon which healthy communities stand—providing essential care, support, and stability that benefit patients far beyond their hospital walls. A recent comprehensive evaluation by the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) reaffirmed this commitment, finding that for every tax benefit received, non-profit hospitals overwhelmingly reinvest to promote a healthier Minnesota.
Uncompensated Care: A Growing Gap That Hospitals Continue to Fill
The 2025 report shows the largest share of hospitals’ community impact – more than $4 billion -was for care provided without payment from patients or insurers, ensuring that no one goes without care due to their financial hardship. This included:
- $1.02 billion in charity care and medical debt that patients simply could not pay.
- $1.44 billion in care for Medicaid patients that was not reimbursed by the state or federal government.
- $1.66 billion in care for Medicare patients that was underfunded by the federal government and Medicare Advantage insurers.
Underfunding for Medicaid and Medicare are at a crisis level as these programs now cover an average of 64% of all hospital patients in Minnesota.
The MHA Community Impact Report provides a comprehensive look at how Minnesota’s hospitals and health systems invest in their communities. It is based on voluntarily reported financial data from fiscal year 2023, IRS 990 Schedule H reporting for private nonprofit hospitals, and data from the Minnesota Department of Health. See examples of how Minnesota hospitals are impacting their communities here.