During the height of the Coronavirus Pandemic, Governor Walz decided to shut several metropolitan hospitals as well as allow several other hospitals to close their doors. All of the hospitals that closed were essential health care centers for Minnesotans. The first state funded public hospital he chose to close was Bethesda, this hospital serves adults with severe disabilities and also serves as a mental health in patient facility. As you may know, I have a child with severe disabilities, and when he turns 18, we were counting on that hospital to give him the medical attention he needs. Governor Walz did not replace Bethesda with other suitable accommodation for the severely disabled population or the mental health population. Walz also closed state funded St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul. Another hospital that serves the severely disabled population and the mental health community. In addition, he authorized the closures of several birth centers. This included, Regina birth center in Hastings, as well as birth centers and inpatient mental health services in Cambridge, Coon Rapids, New Prague, Granite Falls, Mahnomen, Oliva, Fergus Falls, Fairmont, New Ulm, Fosston, and Bemidji, as well as Mercy hospital in Anoka. A staggering amount of hospitals, and all of them serve two communities, birth centers, and inpatient mental health rehabilitation centers. Governor Walz is moving toward a plan to eliminate all rural birth centers and eliminate all inpatient mental health facilities in the state. This is dangerous for Minnesotans, if I am elected Governor, I will take immediate action to re-open as many facilities as necessary to fulfill our obligation to these underserved communities with the health care they deserve.
