Call the Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center (MAARC) at 844-880-1574 (toll free) if you suspect maltreatment of a vulnerable adult or if you are aware of an unexplained injury of a resident/patient/client of a licensed facility. Potential maltreatment may include:

Physical or emotional abuse of any resident/patient/client of a licensed facility.
Sexual abuse, meaning any sexual contact between a staff members and a resident.
Unreasonable confinement of a resident.
Neglect, meaning failure to provide reasonable and necessary care.
Financial exploitation, including fraud or theft from a vulnerable adult or taking a resident’s medications for their own use.

More information is on their website, Minnesota Adult Abuse Reporting Center.

Prompt action is vital. Write down what you know about something you think may be a violation, such as location, names, times, etc.

Mandatory reporters

If you are a mandated reporter, or a provider who has a concern about a vulnerable adult’s family member, or you have a concern about another provider, you may report your concern through the MAARC Mandated Reporter Form or by calling the phone number above. Remember that if you are a mandated reporter and you suspect maltreatment, you have 24 hours to report it.

Filing a complaint for a minor child

If you suspect someone under the age of 18 has been abused, neglected, or exploited by a licensed health care facility, you may contact the Office of Health Facility Complaints at health.ohfc-complaints@state.mn.us (preferred), or by calling 651-201-4200.

If you have reason to believe a child was maltreated by anyone else, or if you are unsure whether the maltreatment of the child was by an MDH-licensed facility, you should contact child protection services in the county where the child lives. See Minnesota Department of Human Services: Minnesota's county and tribal child protection agencies.

Filing an Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act against a hospital

The law that gives everyone in the U.S. protections in a hospital emergency room is the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, also known as "EMTALA." This law helps prevent any hospital emergency department that receives Medicare funds (which includes most U.S. hospitals) from refusing to treat patients. To learn more or file a complaint visit the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services webpage — You have rights in an emergency room.

Other complaints

If you have a concern about a vulnerable adult that is not related to physical, sexual, or emotional abuse; neglect or unexplained injury; or financial exploitation, contact the Office of Health Facility Complaints at health.ohfc-complaints@state.mn.us. You may report rights violations, issues with inadequate care, violations of licensing standards, or issues related to discharge/termination of services via this method.

For more information

For more information about the complaint process, contact the Office of Health Facility Complaints at 651-201-4200 or health.ohfc-complaints@state.mn.us.