HealthPartners and Essentia Health Agree to Merge
October 1, 2026
On September 29, HealthPartners and Essentia Health announced that their boards of directors have approved an affiliation agreement to combine their organizations.
July 9, 2026
More than 130 Allina Health hospital physicians represented by Doctors Council SEIU voted last week, by a 90% margin, to authorize a strike after nearly two years of bargaining.
The physicians at Allina's Mercy and Unity hospitals have been seeking better wages, benefits, a greater voice in decision-making, including in the implementation of artificial intelligence, and for Allina to dissolve its noncompete agreements since they voted to unionize in 2023.
The physicians have not determined when the strike would occur or for how long it would last. They must provide Allina 10 days’ notice before striking at the hospitals, which are in Coon Rapids and Fridley.
According to WCCO Radio, Allina said in a statement that they are disappointed the union chose to “engage in this tactic,” and they say they have negotiated in good faith with the union to reach their first contract.
This vote comes after a separate unionized group consisting of hundreds of Allina primary and urgent care advanced care providers, including some physicians, held a one-day strike last November, the first strike including physicians in Minnesota’s history. The advanced care providers then reached a three-year contract with Allina in the spring, after voting to strike indefinitely.
October 1, 2026
On September 29, HealthPartners and Essentia Health announced that their boards of directors have approved an affiliation agreement to combine their organizations.
October 1, 2026
On October 1, two significant provisions of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA, 2025) affecting non-citizen adults on Medical Assistance (MA; Minnesota Medicaid) take effect.
October 1, 2026
Five physicians, two physicians-in-training, a state senator, and two firearm safety advocacy organizations were all honored with MMA awards, as part of the association’s Empowering Physicians Event on September 25.