The Ely Bloomenson Community Hospital is open and ready for patients, even as the community copes with massive wildfires on near town. Also, Allina and Sutter Health leaders make their case to join together at a public forum in Minneapolis. And helping pets can actually help patients, a Rochester non-profit hopes.

This week, Minnesota's Department of Employment and Economic Development offered a look of the first six months of the new paid leave program; North Memorial and Sanford leaders made their case for a merger at a public forum, and big changes in the 340B drug pricing program were floated in Washington.

This week, Congress turned its focus again on Medicaid fraud, bringing in officials from Minnesota, California, New York and Ohio for a grilling. Also, RHTP isn't winning a lot of praise so far in Minnesota, and insurers in the MNCare marketplace tell the state they expect to post double-digit premium increases for a second straight year. It's an early indication of what's behind growing concern about healthcare affordability in Minnesota as candidates gear up for this fall's elections.

This week, Fairview said it was leaving United Healthcare's Medicare Advantage network, as United Health Group's stock rallies and federal officials issued a critical report about UHC's prior authorization practices. Also, a new survey says Medicaid beneficiaries in Minnesota may be in for some unpleasant surprises, and Eli Lilly makes good on its threat to cut off 340B discounts.

This week: Minnesota's Department of Human Services disenrolled nearly half of the state's Medicaid providers last week, but reversed course amid concerns that disabled and vulnerable Minnesotans could lose services. Also, a new HHS report says for-profit Medicare Advantage providers have "unusual" prior authorization denials for post-hospital care; Keith Ellison held a listening session on the Sanford-North Memorial Health deal, and the Trump administration's $100,000 H-1B visa fee has a setback in court.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published its proposed work requirement for Medicaid beneficiaries, prompting some quiet alarm among advocates for people with lung diseases, HIV and other conditions. The new rule may make "medical frailty" exemptions harder to obtain than many expected. Also, an influential right-leaning think tank is sharpening its attack on the ACA, after playing a key role in paring back Medicaid in Washington last year. And Minnesota has a new pain provider map, aimed at smoothing access to non-drug pain treatments and curbing drug dependence and overdoses.

Minnesota's safety net of Federally Qualified Health Centers provide free or low cost health care to tens of thousands of patients, and some say the number of uninsured people coming through their doors is rising steadily. It's a potential early indicator of a spike in the state's uninsured population that providers are bracing for in 2027. Also, following a state rescue of HCMC, tiny Madelia Health is trying to save itself with a fundraising campaign.

This week, a look back at the just-concluded legislative session, with a big rescue package for HCMC, and some money for other hospitals. But a 340B drug discount expansion that would have meant tens of millions of dollars in additional health funding fell short. Also, the Trump adminsitration expects to cut an additional $775 billion in Medicaid by 2035 -- on top of work and reenrollment requirements.

This week, the legislature agree to a $205 million rescue plan for HCMC, and set up what is planned to be a $500 million safety net for hospitals in the future -- which may be closer than people think. Also, beefed up 340B discount enforcement is making progress at the Capitol, and Minnesota is monitoring a hantavirus exposure as an outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship has sparked memories of the COVID pandemic. Plus: New state directed payment rules expected next week may have a big impact on Minnesota hospitals.

The Minnesota House voted last night to approve this off-year's supplemental health budget. But the measure left more questions than answers for providers and patients, as the state braces for the impact of Medicaid changes in last year's One Big Beautiful Act. Also, Minnesota's Department of Human Services leadership switched this week -- twice. It came as scrutiny continued to grow on Medicaid fraud in the state.