MAHNOMEN — Leaders of the Mahnomen Health Center have announced plans to eliminate inpatient hospital services by transitioning from critical access to a rural emergency hospital.
According to a submission to the Minnesota Department of Health, the health center will continue to provide outpatient and emergency services.
As required by state law, the health department will host a virtual public hearing on the transition at 6 p.m. on April 30.
Mahnomen Health Center opened in 1959 and is jointly owned by Mahnomen County and the city of Mahnomen.
The health center currently has 10 beds and operates a 32-bed skilled nursing facility, serving about 5,500 residents in Mahnomen County, White Earth Reservation and the surrounding area. The skilled nursing facility is not affected by this change, according to the health department.
The Mahnomen County Board was briefed on the reclassification in December 2023, when Mahnomen Health Center CEO Dale Kruger explained the reimbursements from Medicaid would positively impact the hospital’s finances under a rural emergency model.
Congress established the Rural Emergency Hospital designation in 2020 in an effort to maintain access to emergency services in communities that might not be able to support a critical access hospital.
More information about the hearing and a form to submit public comment can be found on the Mahnomen Health Center Public Hearing webpage of the MDH website.
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