ST. PAUL — On Friday, the Minnesota House of Representatives unanimously passed SF 328, a bill to remove an existing moratorium in place on hospitals in Carver County. Specifically, this bill will allow Ridgeview Medical Center to expand its inpatient program in its Waconia hospital by 20 additional beds. This does not reflect an increase in the volume of the number of licensed beds beyond those already approved by the Minnesota legislature and does not create a new hospital license. Ridgeview had previously been allocated the use of the 20 licensed beds by the legislature in 2003, but due to regulatory restrictions was not able to use them in the most efficient manner.
"This is great news for our community and Ridgeview Medical Center. It will result in more patients from the Southwest Metro and the immediate area can be treated at this fantastic facility," said Rep. Jim Nash, R-Waconia, author of the bill. "It will also create new nursing jobs, support jobs, and facility jobs for our community. Bills like this are proof we can work together to get things done for communities across our state."
The bill also passed the Senate unanimously. It will now be sent to the governor for his signature.
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