The 2004 Minnesota Legislature passed a law establishing a public interest review process for hospitals seeking exceptions to the state’s hospital bed moratorium law (Minnesota Statutes, chapter 144.552). Under this process, a hospital seeking to increase its number of licensed beds or an organization seeking to obtain a hospital license must submit a plan to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). MDH is required to review the plan and issue a finding on whether the plan is in the public interest.

In conducting its review, the MDH is required to consider certain issues, including the following:

Whether the new hospital or hospital beds are needed to provide timely access to care or access to new or improved services.
The financial impact of the new hospital or hospital beds on existing acute-care hospitals that have emergency departments in the region.
How the new hospital or hospital beds will affect the ability of existing hospitals in the region to maintain existing staff.
The extent to which the new hospital or hospital beds will provide services to nonpaying or low-income patients relative to the level of services provided to these groups by existing hospitals in the region.
The views of affected parties.

Under the statute, MDH must issue a finding within 150 days after sending a notice of complete application.

Guidance for Public Interest Review Process, July 2023 (PDF)

Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital Data Reporting

MDH has a statutory obligation under Minnesota Statutes 144.551 to monitor certain hospitals that are exempt from the hospital construction moratorium—such as Capitol Park Mental Health Hospital. MDH is also required to collect data and other information to conduct a study on inpatient mental health access and quality. The below materials are to be used to fulfill these requirements.

Data Reporting Registration form
Reporting Guidance (PDF)
Discharge Data Template (xlsx)
Transfer Request Data Template (xlsx)
Staffing Data Template (xlsx)
MDH Cloud Drive

Letters of Intent

There are currently no letters of intent.

Proposals Under Review

Regions Hospital 2025—Submission filed August 2025

Completed Reviews

Regency Hospital/Select Medical
Regions Hospital 2021—Submission filed August 2021
Nobis Rehabilitation Partners
Children's Minnesota
Fairview Health Services/Acadia Healthcare
North Shore Health
PrairieCare Brooklyn Park—Submission filed September 2021
Regions Hospital 2017—Submission filed November 2017
PrairieCare Brooklyn Park—Submission filed August 2016
PrairieCare Maple Grove
Sanford Thief River Falls Psychiatric Hospital
Perham Health Psychiatric Hospital
Proposal for a Specialty Psychiatrist Hospital in Woodbury, MN (PDF)
Proposal for a New Inpatient Facility in Cass County, MN (PDF)
Fairview Health Services Proposal for a New Inpatient Facility in Maple Grove, MN (PDF)
North Memorial Health Care Proposal for a New Inpatient Facility in Maple Grove, MN (PDF)
Maple Grove Tri-Care Partnership Proposal for a New Inpatient Facility in Maple Grove, MN (PDF)
Withdrawn Reviews
Allina Health
Tandem Hospital Partners
Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital