North Memorial Health says the cuts will affect about 100 jobs, including the closure of its outpatient mental health program in Robbinsdale.
ROBINSDALE, Minn. — North Memorial Health announced plans to cut more than 100 jobs, including closing its outpatient mental health program in Robbinsdale.
“Team members are eligible to be rehired at North through other open positions,” according to a statement from North Memorial.
A North Memorial spokesperson said about 3,400 mentally ill patients will be affected by the cuts and is working to find care for them at other clinics and service centers.
“Small clinics, residential facilities, day care, children's programs, etc. have been closed, but this is a fairly large clinic, and a large “It's part of the health care system and they're going to be shut down.” Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
She says these cuts will have a significant impact on patients across the Twin Cities. She said: “People are already waiting months to receive treatment, and psychiatric visits are taking even longer.”
Abderholden said many clinics and hospitals employ mental health workers, so she's less worried about the employees who lose their jobs and more worried about the patients. talk.
“I'm sure some people will be devastated by this and wonder what's going to happen next. Some of you are already living with anxiety, right? And now that your clinic is closing in August? We know that, so we have some time, but it just increases their anxiety,” she said.
She also worries about the underlying issues behind this closure.
North Memorial Health says an increase in the number of patients eligible for government-sponsored health insurance has made it financially difficult to provide mental health services in Robbinsdale.
“Medicaid is the largest payer of mental health treatment, the largest payer, not private insurance. We all know that Medicaid pays much less. So Medicaid's operating margin That's zero or very close to zero. Operating on such thin margins, it can be difficult to keep seats open,” Abderholden said.
The Minnesota Hospital Association agrees, saying in a recent statement that Minnesota hospitals provided more than $2 billion in unpaid care last year because of public programs.
Nearly a third of that amount, or about $800 million, comes from state-sponsored Medicaid programs, the association said in a statement.
“We've talked to a lot of mental health providers and they're saying they can't continue with these low rates,” Abderholden said.
Abderholden said more clinics are deciding not to accept new Medicaid patients, and some are not taking them at all, because they generate less revenue from Medicaid patients.
“Clinics do have the right to say they can't take any more Medicaid patients. But that's not what we want because we want to make sure people get treatment, but it's a concern. is.”
Abderholden said there are bills surfacing around the state Capitol to address this issue, to increase Medicaid payment rates.
He said interest rates are unlikely to rise to the level he expects, but he expects to see at least a small increase by the end of the year.
Check out all the latest articles from Breaking The News. YouTube playlist:
