The 2025–2026 Hospital Safety Net Grant Program is a funding initiative authorized under Minnesota Statutes Section 145.929 and administered by the Office of Rural Health and Primary Care (ORHPC). The program is designed to provide financial support to Minnesota hospitals for high-cost emergency medical services rendered to Emergency Medical Assistance (EMA) enrollees. It seeks to alleviate the financial burden associated with underpayments for these services by offering proportional reimbursements based on qualifying claims.

The program will begin accepting Letters of Intent (LOIs) on Monday, March 10, 2025, and all LOIs must be submitted via the ORHPC Online Grants Portal by 4:30 PM Central Time on Friday, April 11, 2025. This initial step is required to initiate the formal application process. The application forms and grant guidelines will be available through the same portal.

Hospitals that are eligible to apply must be licensed in the state of Minnesota and must have provided services to EMA enrollees during the qualifying period. To qualify for funding, hospitals must have submitted claims of over $50,000 for services provided to EMA patients between January 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024. Only costs that directly offset the expense of treating EMA enrollees are eligible for reimbursement under this grant.

An estimated total of $1,315,000 is available for the first year of the two-year grant cycle, which runs from June 30, 2025, through June 29, 2027. Funds will be distributed proportionally among eligible applicants based on the total dollar amount of their qualifying claims. The distribution formula ensures equitable allocation relative to the financial burden experienced by each applicant. Funding amounts for the second year of the grant cycle will be determined after year one awards are finalized and based on the number of participating awardees.

Hospitals must submit their applications through the ORHPC Online Grants Portal. Additional details, including application forms and guidelines, are made available through that portal. No direct contact information was provided with the announcement, but applicants are encouraged to reach out to ORHPC for any clarifications or assistance during the application process.