MHA Healthline

In this week's episode, a bill to boost the 340B drug discount program in the state got bi-partisan approval in the Minnesota Senate; the House tax committee started work on a financial rescue plan for Hennepin Healthcare, and providers in St. Paul highlighted the dangers they're seeing among kids riding electric scooters and bikes. Also, a new KFF analysis found a statistically significant rise i...

This week, nurses, paramedics and other workers held a press conference at the Capitol to plead HCMC's case to lawmakers as financial challenges continue; the Minnesota Department of Human Services has an update on its efforts to get back in good stead with CMS and overhaul Medical Assistance, and a new Gallup poll says that American's worries about the economy were easing in early 2026, with heal...

This week, word that CMS is looking approvingly at the anti-fraud measures Minnesota offered in response to a threatened Medicaid funding freeze -- although some small Minnesota health care providers say they haven't been paid for months by Medicare. Also, the legislature debated GLP-1 coverage for Medical Assistance beneficiaries, and kept it -for now. Also, there may not be just one "Big Beautif...

Unpaid care at Minnesota hospitals rose nearly a third in 2024, a new report from the Minnesota Department of Health told lawmakers this week. And that's before a spike in uninsured patients MDH reported for 2025 and a new poll that says nearly 1 in 10 Affordable Care Act market enrollees in the U.S.  last year are now without any insurance at all. Also, Gov. Tim Walz rolled out a new child care t...

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Department of Human Services commissioner Shireen Gandhi proposed major changes to how Medicaid works in Minnesota this week. They're trying to convince federal officials that they're responding to widespread fraud allegations, as well as prepare for looming work requirements. Also, the percent of Minnesotans without health insurance was creeping up, even before pandemi...

This week: Minnesota governor Tim Walz and attorney general Keith Ellison got a grilling before the House Oversight committee in Washington, and CMS director Dr. Mehmet Oz suggested a focus on fraud will be turning to New York State soon. Also, a new report on the 340B drug discount program got an airing at the Capitol, and a new Rand Report looks at the financial impact of the One Big Beautiful B...

This week: President Donald Trump made allegations of social services fraud in Minnesota one of the keynotes of his 2026 State of the Union address, although he also mentioned drug prices and health care price transparency. Also, Hennepin Healthcare told the Minnesota Senate it was in dire straights and at risk of closing without a financial lifeline.

This we ek :  The legislature is back and already looking at health matters, and  we're  getting  a look  at the impact of the  end of pandemic-era  ACA  subsidies in Minnesota.   Host: Tim Nelson, Minnesota Hospital Association

Officials at Hennepin Healthcare started the week with some warnings about the financial difficulties at HCMC, and followed with some substantial cut backs announced later in the week. Also, border czar Tom Homan announced a roll back on Operation Metro Surge and denied agents were looking for immigrants in health care settings -- but didn't rule that out. Also, more federal funding battles betwee...