June 16, 2005

Minnesota's top charity hospitals sign billing agreement
Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and Regions Hospital today announced that they have signed the agreement with the Minnesota attorney generals office to discount medical charges and modify billing practices for patients who do not have insurance.

"The commitment of our two hospitals to provide outstanding care to the communities that we serve has always been clear," said Jeff Spartz, HCMC administrator. "This agreement brings clarity and uniformity to rates and billing procedures for people who are uninsured."

HCMC and Regions are the two largest providers of uncompensated care in Minnesota. In 2004, HCMC and Regions had more than $42 million in costs associated with providing uncompensated care, up more than 30 percent from 2003 to 2004.

"Regions and HCMC have long traditions of providing care to everyone in our community, regardless of ability to pay," said Brock Nelson, president and CEO, Regions Hospital. "By signing this agreement we reaffirm our commitment to provide care to the uninsured. We commend Minnesota hospitals for recognizing that all of us have a duty to provide financial support to patients without health insurance."

Hennepin County Medical Center is a Level 1 Trauma Center and public teaching hospital in Minneapolis, repeatedly recognized as one of Americas best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. The centerpiece of Hennepin County's clinical health services, HCMC offers a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient services.

Contact: Vince Rivard, Regions 651-254-4729
Tom Hayes, HCMC 612-873-3337