Minnesota Matters 10-2-26

I'm

the co-chair of the Health Committee, so I wanted to get your thoughts on not only this merger but other mergers.

But what's your reaction to this one between health partners and Essentia Health?

pretty much similar to the other mergers there's three points that I always look at and consider especially in this one here you know what's most important is to put patients first one of the challenges and I'm not saying this is going to happen but as organizations get larger traditionally we see customer service failing us again I'm not implying that this will happen here but we do need to put patients first any merger this large should be judged on whether it lowers costs that's customer service improves access because obviously in west central minnesota where i'm at access is always a concern i realize that this merger will affect not just in rural but also across the state in the metro duluth rochester north east south and west but we want to improve access and maintains patient choice so that's one thing that we have to look at um what's really important to me number two because i do represent a large district but also serving as a co-chair i have always continued to do my best to be a strong voice for rural rural minnesota so you know protect health care in greater minnesota you know essential has been a critical provider for greater Minnesota, and obviously we want to make sure that happens.

As mergers happen, there's less focus on local hospitals.

That has always concerned me with Essentia, making sure that they focus outside of the Duluth area, because obviously they've got a big campus in Duluth, but they also have a good campus in the Fargo-Moorhead area and so forth.

So we want to be making sure we protect rural Minnesota.

And then, of course, thirdly is demand accountability.

If health partners and Accenture, if this merger happens, we have to make sure affordability benefits this.

That's what we're hearing.

I did talk yesterday, of course, with a representative with Accenture and with health partners, and that was one of the things that they talked about is more affordability, more access.

It's always easier to... say an objective, it's harder to make those things happen.

And I have seen in larger organizations it becomes even more challenging because roles are defined and as we know in patient care, it's always not what you're trained for.

Let me ask you, because health partners in Essentia, when they sent out this release, they touched on all that.

Oh, we're going to be more affordable.

It's going to be greater accessibility to all Minnesotans all over the state.

So they're saying that now, but how do you keep them accountable once this goes through?

you communicate with them.

Like when those calls were made yesterday, those were the first things that happened.

If you don't set a goal in mind, you'll for sure hit that target all the time.

So you set a goal in mind and you keep them accountable.

And you keep them accountable in the position that I have been, you know, have the opportunity to serve because they do come to your office.

There's been times that I've had people, you know, the graceful hospital is no longer in my district.

I still take calls regularly.

for that assistant living facility, that hospital in Graceville, the nursing home, the pharmacist and different things, pharmacy there.

I'm

the co-chair of the Health Committee, so I wanted to get your thoughts on not only this merger but other mergers.

But what's your reaction to this one between health partners and Essentia Health?

pretty much similar to the other mergers there's three points that I always look at and consider especially in this one here you know what's most important is to put patients first one of the challenges and I'm not saying this is going to happen but as organizations get larger traditionally we see customer service failing us again I'm not implying that this will happen here but we do need to put patients first any merger this large should be judged on whether it lowers costs that's customer service improves access because obviously in west central minnesota where i'm at access is always a concern i realize that this merger will affect not just in rural but also across the state in the metro duluth rochester north east south and west but we want to improve access and maintains patient choice so that's one thing that we have to look at um what's really important to me number two because i do represent a large district but also serving as a co-chair i have always continued to do my best to be a strong voice for rural rural minnesota so you know protect health care in greater minnesota you know essential has been a critical provider for greater Minnesota, and obviously we want to make sure that happens.

As mergers happen, there's less focus on local hospitals.

That has always concerned me with Essentia, making sure that they focus outside of the Duluth area, because obviously they've got a big campus in Duluth, but they also have a good campus in the Fargo-Moorhead area and so forth.

So we want to be making sure we protect rural Minnesota.

And then, of course, thirdly is demand accountability.

If health partners and Accenture, if this merger happens, we have to make sure affordability benefits this.

That's what we're hearing.

I did talk yesterday, of course, with a representative with Accenture and with health partners, and that was one of the things that they talked about is more affordability, more access.

It's always easier to... say an objective, it's harder to make those things happen.

And I have seen in larger organizations it becomes even more challenging because roles are defined and as we know in patient care, it's always not what you're trained for.

Let me ask you, because health partners in Essentia, when they sent out this release, they touched on all that.

Oh, we're going to be more affordable.

It's going to be greater accessibility to all Minnesotans all over the state.

So they're saying that now, but how do you keep them accountable once this goes through?

you communicate with them.

Like when those calls were made yesterday, those were the first things that happened.

If you don't set a goal in mind, you'll for sure hit that target all the time.

So you set a goal in mind and you keep them accountable.

And you keep them accountable in the position that I have been, you know, have the opportunity to serve because they do come to your office.

There's been times that I've had people, you know, the graceful hospital is no longer in my district.

I still take calls regularly.

for that assistant living facility, that hospital in Graceville, the nursing home, the pharmacist and different things, pharmacy there.