SAINT PAUL, Minn. – This week, House committees discussed a pair of bills authored by Rep. Rob Ecklund (DFL – International Falls) to strengthen the regional economy in Cook County and improve access to health care for area residents. One bill would allow North Shore Health (NSH) in Grand Marais to increase its critical access hospital capacity from 16 beds to 25, while another bill would renew Cook County’s 1% lodging tax which funds tourism and marketing efforts for the region.
“Our region has some unique challenges due to our geography, but I’m proud to partner with regional leaders to help strengthen our quality of life up in the Northland,” Rep. Ecklund said. “Both of these bills will ensure Cook County remains an excellent place to raise a family, retire in, or visit while ensuring residents can remain healthy and we can all share in economic opportunity.”
State law has a moratorium on projects to create new hospital critical care bed capacity. Rep. Ecklund’s legislation, which the House Health Committee discussed Tuesday, would provide an exception to that moratorium, allowing the NSH hospital – which has an attached long-term care facility – to place a number of licensed nursing home beds in layaway status and designate those beds and space to the hospital for use as swing beds. NSH is the only hospital and care center in Cook County.
The current operation and cost structure has led to losses for several years, putting the facility’s viability at risk. The nearest hospital is 84 miles away in Two Harbors, the nearest trauma center is 110 miles away in Duluth, and the nearest nursing home is the Veterans Home in Silver Bay 54 miles away. Changes allowed under Rep. Ecklund’s bill would increase Medicare revenue for the hospital an average of $800,000 per year. The committee laid the bill over for future consideration in a Health finance bill.
Separately, Rep. Ecklund is chief author of legislation allowing Cook County to renew a 1% lodging tax for another 15 years. Proceeds from the sales tax fund Visit Cook County, the regional event and visitor’s bureau charged with promoting tourism, the county’s number one industry. Visit Cook County works to raise awareness of the region which supports visitor growth, promotes jobs and economic opportunities, and provides locals with activities, events, music, arts and culture, contributing to a high quality of life. The House Property Tax Division laid the bill over for a future bill.