Allina News

[Minnesota Public Radio, Oct. 27, 2011] A partnership between two rivals offers a glimpse of the future under a cornerstone of the federal health care overhaul. Allina Hospitals & Clinics and HealthPartners together tested strategies to improve care and reduce health costs for some 27,000 patients in the northwest metro area. Listen to the full [...]

[Pioneer Press, August 18, 2011] Chris Evans wants to qualify for a health plan with a lower deductible next year. So the St. Paul man spent five minutes this week with a toothbrush-shaped swab tucked between his cheek and gums as part of a tobacco-use screening test at United Hospital. This year, Allina joins a [...]

[Minnesota Public Radio, March 31, 2011]  The Obama administration has filled in some of the blanks in a key part of the health care overhaul. The administration proposed rules Thursday to define Accountable Care Organizations, which are meant to save hundreds of millions of dollars in the Medicare program while improving quality for patients. ACOs [...]

[Finance & Commerce, April 19, 2010] More than three weeks ago, on March 26, Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed a compromise bill that kept alive the general assistance medical care (GAMC) program. While the deal was celebrated at the Capitol, a staggering representation from Minnesota hospitals told a state House panel last week that they’re going [...]

[Star Tribune, Jan. 29, 2010] If a final health bill passes—and that’s a big if—it’s likely to include a payment formula that would reward efficient, high-quality providers. Leading a coalition of hospitals from the Midwest and Pacific Northwest, Mayo Clinic proposed a radical new payment formula, called a “value index.” Instead of paying the same [...]

[Minnesota Public Radio-Midday, Jan. 18, 2010] On Minnesota Public Radio’s Midday program, U.S. Senator Al Franken fielded questions on a wide range topics including several on health care. During the program he cited Allina’s Heart of New Ulm program as an example of preventive health care that will improve health and save money. Listen to [...]

[Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, Nov. 30, 2009] Allina was among health care providers to whom UCare paid out nearly $2.5 million in its 2008 “pay for performance” campaign, the health plan announced Monday. The payments were up 58 percent from 2007, according to Minneapolis-based UCare, meaning that participating clinics have improved their performance in the [...]

[Star Tribune, Oct. 25, 2009] Every time I go to the grocery store, I check my receipt to make sure I was properly charged. But when it comes to medical care, I have no idea what medical procedures should cost. On the rare occasions that I receive a detailed bill, I can barely decipher it. [...]

[MinnPost, Oct. 15, 2009] Three days before the 2009 Minnesota legislative session ended, Gov. Tim Pawlenty used his line-item veto to strike $381 million in second-year funding for General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC), stunning Republicans and Democrats alike. Then the Republican governor unallotted another $15 million, in effect speeding up the demise of the program [...]

[Star Tribune, Oct. 6, 2009] I want everyone to have health insurance and access to health care services. Health care is a right, not a privilege. The United States is a country built on capitalism and self-reliance, yet compassion is valued in equal measure. My neighbor who was laid off deserves coverage; the single mother [...]

[Jordan Independent] Although St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, Minnesota, has remained busy, it’s been affected by the economy. The hospital is laying off 13 nurses and is working with Allina Hospitals & Clinics to offer employee assistance, counseling, and possible placement. Read the full story on jordannews.com…