Opinion editor’s note: editorial They represent the opinion of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently of the newsroom.
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One of Minnesota’s recent health care awards deserves more publicity than it initially received.
Late last fall, federal officials announced that Minnesota MedTech 3.0, a consortium led by the Greater MSP Economic Development Group, had been named one of 31 “tech hubs” across the country. This designation formally recognizes the state’s enviable collection of medical technology companies and world-class healthcare providers. They are also eligible to apply for millions of dollars in federal funding to leverage technology to meet evolving health care needs and foster economic growth.
Greater MSP and its partners, as well as Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who advocated tirelessly for this designation, deserve credit for their excellent work. Artificial intelligence and other advances are already accelerating rapid change in medicine. The medtech plan is a great example of a big-picture strategy that will pay dividends far into the future.
But the need for an ambitious strategy goes beyond that. Indeed, this recognition should garner even more attention, especially from Gov. Tim Walz and the Legislature.
Having an academic medical center that leverages research, education, and clinical care to prioritize service to the state is a core element of the healthcare ecosystem that has enabled Minnesota to compete for honors like Tech Hub designation. It is necessary to recognize that Minnesota is fortunate to have two world-class medical centers, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester and the University of Minnesota in the Twin Cities, but only one of them has a purely public mission and is a state employee. He is training 70% of the doctors.
That’s America. The governor and lawmakers will start working now, not next year, to ensure America’s medical centers are well-managed and have the resources they need to play a critical role in Minnesota’s future. There is a need.
The well-publicized tensions between the United States and its current partner Fairview over the past 15 months have revealed this important medical center at a crossroads. This often uneasy partnership has existed since 1997, when ownership of the university’s teaching hospital was transferred to Fairview. Fairview’s controversial effort to merge with Sanford, an out-of-state private health system, in late 2022 draws U.S. praise for reacquiring the medical center and focusing on meeting Minnesotans’ needs. It led to the promotion it deserves.
To be successful, this effort will require legal support and almost certainly additional funding to help the companies grow and meet the daunting expectations for their role in the state’s future.
About a week ago, the U.S. board approved a non-binding letter of intent to buy back the medical center, with the deal expected to close by the end of 2027, the Star Tribune reported.
It is too early to comment on the main terms of the agreement as they are still being considered. For example, it is not clear what the acquisition price will be. This is not yet an agreement, and the Star Tribune Editorial Board is particularly concerned about the amount of debt the United States may be required to incur as part of the deal.
Still, it’s good to see the U and Fairview working together. This is an improvement from the acrimonious situation that arose from the Sanford merger proposal. The letter of intent is a positive step, and the framework will eventually provide details on what it will take to conclude a deal and what resources the United States will require.
Lawmakers need to embrace their role in the future of medical centers. You should start by thoroughly reading the recently released report from the Governor’s Task Force on Academic Health Professions Education. The task force did not make any specific recommendations regarding the U.S.-Fairview agreement. Nor did it approve whether a new medical center should be built, as proposed by the United States.
But the report acknowledges the critical role university academic health programs play in Minnesota, calls for a “new vision,” and calls for “support for the critical role of academic health” in the state’s health sector. We broadly support the strengthening of the Framework of care. The findings of the Select Committee provide a solid foundation for lawmakers to begin their work.
Legislators should demonstrate support for the direction outlined in the letter of intent by including funding for the new hospital in a bond bill. Leaders will also appoint legislative subcommittees or study committees (this time members only, to avoid duplication with the governor’s task force) to ensure a continued and dedicated flow of funding for academic medicine in the United States. You need to make a proposal regarding. 2025.
After an ambitious 2023 session, lawmakers laid out a more measured agenda for 2024. That’s not a valid excuse for inaction. America’s medical centers are one of our states’ major assets and are at a critical juncture. Now is the time to chart a course for that future.
The editorial board includes David Banks, Jill Barkham, Scott Gillespie, Dennis Johnson and John Rush. Star Tribune Opinion staff members Maggie Kelly and Elena Neuzil are also contributing, and Star Tribune CEO and publisher Steve Grove is serving as an advisor to the board.
