MN HF44

Amends Minnesota Statutes section 144.551, subdivision 1, to provide exceptions to the state hospital construction moratorium that prohibits increasing hospital bed capacity or establishing new hospitals.

Adds two new exemptions: (29) a project to add 45 licensed beds in an existing safety net, level I trauma center hospital in Ramsey County with no further public interest review required; and (30) a project to add 30 new beds in an existing psychiatric hospital in Hennepl County exclusively for patients under 21 years of age.

Clarifies that exemption (28) for adding 55 licensed beds in a Ramsey County safety net hospital includes 15 beds for inpatient mental health, 40 for other services, plus five unlicensed observation mental health beds.

Maintains existing exemptions for national referral centers, projects with approved certificates of need, various regional hospital expansions, and other specific facility projects throughout the state.