ROCHESTER, Minnesota — The Mayo Clinic this week threatened to withdraw an undisclosed billion-dollar infrastructure project from Minnesota if DFL leaders advance two healthcare bills that Mayo opposes. Independently confirmed by KARE 11.
Mayo Clinic officials said in an email to DFL leaders that if they don’t change the law, “we need to redirect this huge investment to other states.”
Mayo’s concerns center around two bills. The first, known as the “Keep Nurses at Bedside Act”, attempts to limit patient load by having more nurses on hospital staffing boards, while the second is health Establish a Care Affordability Board. The DFL-led House and Senate have already advanced both bills into a larger budget bill in this session and are now finalizing steps to ask Governor Waltz to sign it.
Amy Williams, Ph.D., Director of Midwest Clinical Practice, Mayo Clinic, said: patient needs. ”
But DFL lawmakers and the Minnesota Nurses Association are against.
Rep. Sandra Feist (DFL-New Brighton), author of the House of Representatives Protect Bedside Nurses Act, said she was “extremely surprised” by what she called Mayo’s “ultimatum.” Stated.
“The language Mayo provided would exempt most, if not all, hospitals in Minnesota, rendering the rest of the bill meaningless,” Feist said in an interview. We can’t go forward with that wording, but I’m working with Mayo to refine that wording so that nurses have a voice and hospitals that are safely staffed where this bill isn’t are exempt. We want to assure you that if you don’t need
Meanwhile, Mary Turner, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, ripped Mayo apart after learning of the email.
“Corporate health care at the last minute, big corporations swooping in and basically holding our country hostage?” Turner said in an interview. “It’s despicable, and it’s dirty politics.”
Turner accused Mayo of wanting “complete control over everything that has to do with assigning patient care.”
“That’s what’s behind all this, the control, and they’re using the money, obviously threatening us with the billion-dollar operations they run,” Turner said. “If nurses know only one thing to do, it’s mobilize, organize, and fight back, because we do it at our bedside every day.”
At least one Republican legislative leader rushed to defend Mayo on Friday, despite having no power in either house. Senator Paul Utke, who opposed the staffing bill during the session, issued a statement, saying, “The Mayo Clinic is taking the lead on many other businesses, school districts, and even The Wall Street Journal in a drastic move that Democrats are rushing to make. We are sounding alarm bells about such changes. We will implement them.”
“The reckless abandon shown by Governor Waltz and the Legislative Democrats to expand the agenda is unmatched,” continued Utke. It makes even the most loyal hometown businesses reconsider. ”
But Feist said he was “optimistic” about a compromise.
“If they come back to the table, I’m confident we can work together,” Feist said, adding that “the bill has the language to ensure that it achieves its goals and addresses Mr. Mayo’s concerns.” to find out,” he said.
Waltz also addressed Mayo’s situation at a press conference on Friday. He said he was unaware of the details related to Mayo’s planned investment, but said he recently spoke with Dr. Gianrico Farguia of the Mayo Clinic and listened to their concerns.
“We have always been supportive of ensuring that nurses are supported with what they need, and we also understand that Mayo Clinic is a unique entity with a global focus. , we know that work is underway,” said Walz. “I think we can get a compromise that works for everyone.”
The latest local news from Twin Cities and across Minnesota, YouTube playlist: