Clinic Expansions Are Vital Lifelines for a Healthy Community.
During the last few weeks, we have celebrated several major milestones for Minnesota Health Centers: the openings of Southside Community Health Services’ “One Southside” hub in South Minneapolis, a new Open Cities Clinics and Services site embedded in a St. Paul YWCA clinic, and a new Open Door Health Center in Shakopee. Groundbreaking ceremonies of new sites and services to come at South Minneapolis-based health centers, the University of Minnesota Community-University Health Care Center, Indian Health Board of Minneapolis, Inc, and Native American Community Clinic. These expansions are vital lifelines as Minnesota faces a growing healthcare crisis.
People’s Center Clinics & Services’ CEO Ann Rogers and Southside CHS’s Executive Director Ann Cazaban were featured on a KSTP TV story on the rising number of uninsured in Minnesota.
The story came on the heels of the CDC’s latest data release about health insurance coverage in the US and the 2025 Minnesota Health Access Survey which highlights that the state’s uninsured rate has climbed from 3.8% in 2023 to 5.8% today. This represents 116,000 more Minnesotans without coverage, a shift largely driven by the 2024 Medicaid “unwinding,” and a trend not expected to improve with impending policy changes related to HR1. Likewise, rates of uninsured Hispanic Minnesotans reached 20.7%, while rates for Black and American Indian residents have reached double digits. Both rates are significantly higher than the statewide average of 5.8%. As reported by KSTP, these gaps force families to delay critical care until manageable conditions become emergencies.
Despite these myriad challenges, Minnesota Health Centers continue to improve and expand their sites and services to meet the needs of their patients, communities, and neighbors.
Minnesota Public Radio ran a story this week on the Native American Community Clinic’s announcement that its south Minneapolis health clinic and affordable housing project is expected to open in September. This is a project years in the making, with partners, patients and neighbors coming together to build a better solution that will improve the health of all Minnesotans.
The Sahan Journal interviewed CUHCC CEO Dr. Roli Dwivedi on their planned renovation. In addition, Dr. Dwivedi shared the work CUHCC does, how the expansion will improve patient outcomes, and the challenges health care providers face as cuts to Medicaid collide with rising health care costs.
Our member clinics are seeing the direct impact of this "safety net" pressure. While modern facilities will allow us to provide integrated medical and dental care more efficiently, the systemic rise in uninsurance requires urgent attention.
While MNACHC and the state’s 17 Minnesota Health Centers remain committed to ensuring access to primary health care services for all Minnesotans, we call on all of our leaders and partners to address these coverage gaps and support all of the safety-net providers serving as our communities' front line.
