Medicaid: Protecting Health Care for Minnesotans

Medicaid is essential to Minnesotan’s health

Medicaid—known as Medical Assistance in Minnesota—provides lifesaving coverage to 1.3 million Minnesotans, ensuring access to preventive care, maternal health, chronic disease treatment, and long-term care. It is the foundation of healthcare access for: 

• 42% of Minnesota’s children, ensuring routine checkups, vaccinations, and early interventions.
• One-third of all births, providing 12 months of postpartum care to support healthy moms and babies.
• Low-income workers and families, helping them stay healthy and financially secure.
• Rural communities, where Medicaid funding is vital for keeping local hospitals open.
• Nearly 60% of Minnesota’s nursing home residents, ensuring seniors receive the care they need.
• People with disabilities, delivering critical home- and community-based services.

Medicaid is at Risk from Chronic Underfunding 

Medicaid is the backbone of Minnesota’s health care system, yet persistent underfunding threatens the availability of essential services for millions of Minnesotans. Without stable and sufficient Medicaid funding: 

• Children may lose access to preventive care, leading to more severe health issues and hospital visits later in life.
• Mothers face gaps in postpartum care, increasing the risks of maternal health complications.

• Rural hospitals and clinics struggle to stay open, jeopardizing local access to emergency and routine care. 

  • Seniors and people with disabilities face uncertainty in long-term care services, forcing difficult financial and personal decisions.
  • Nonprofit hospitals and health systems must absorb growing uncompensated care costs, straining their ability to provide care for all Minnesotans.

Without stable Medicaid funding, the healthcare of all Minnesotans is at risk—whether they rely on Medicaid directly or not. 

Minnesota’s Future Depends on a Strong Medicaid Program 

The Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) urges policymakers to: 

✔ Ensure Medicaid funding keeps pace with rising healthcare costs so nonprofit hospitals and providers can continue serving patients. 

✔ Protect Medicaid’s role in covering children, seniors, and low-income families, ensuring access to high-quality care. 

✔ Support rural hospitals and clinics, which depend on Medicaid to stay open and provide essential healthcare. 

✔ Preserve Medicaid expansion and postpartum coverage, ensuring families receive preventive and maternal health services. 

Take Action 

Minnesotans depend on Medicaid—and we must protect it. Join MHA in advocating for policies that strengthen healthcare access, protect patients, and sustain our nonprofit hospital system.