March 30, 2023
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is partnering with Stratis Health and consultants from the former Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) to form a network of 20 primary care physicians and specialists who are treating long COVID patients from across the state.
Facilitated by MDH’s long COVID team, the network of 20 clinicians is known as the Long COVID Guiding Council. Its members represent an array of medical settings including community clinics, safety net hospitals, long COVID specialty centers, rural health systems and academic health centers. The focus of the Guiding Council will be to develop strategies to educate providers and help them implement processes and policies that will improve access and quality of long COVID care.
The Guiding Council will meet monthly to discuss emerging evidence, treatment and current practices. In developing guidance, it will incorporate broader stakeholder input from patients, caregivers, nurses, community health workers and community leaders.
In addition, to better understand the lasting effects of COVID-19 on the lives of Minnesotans, MDH has launched two post-COVID surveys among people who have had COVID-19 – one statewide and one in McLeod County. The surveys will explore long-term symptoms Minnesotans are facing since being infected and how this has affected their lives. Results of the surveys are expected to be available later this year and will be used to identify and guide future MDH actions to address long COVID.
MDH’s long COVID program is currently funded by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID and Health Equity grant through June 2023. A proposal to extend MDH’s long COVID work has been recommended by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. The proposal provides for a sustained public health response for long COVID throughout Minnesota by supplying the essential resources to allow MDH to build on the foundation established with CDC grant funds.
More information about long COVID and MDH’s work, along with resources and recovery support information is available on the MDH Long COVID website.
April 9, 2026
An amended piece of legislation that would exempt buprenorphine from prior authorization (PA) was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 9.
April 9, 2026
On April 9, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard a bill that would require coverage for psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) services under Medical Assistance.
April 9, 2026
On April 9, the House Taxes Committee heard legislation focused on supporting the financial stability and ongoing operations of Hennepin Healthcare.