The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office announced on April 15 that it is seeking public comments regarding the proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health. Community members are encouraged to submit their views through an online Community Input Form as part of the review process.
This review will be conducted under Minnesota’s health care transaction law, charities law, and antitrust law to determine whether the deal complies with state regulations and serves the public interest. The Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Health, will evaluate how the transaction may affect patients and health care workers, including its impact on options for care, access, and affordability.
Public feedback will play a significant role in this evaluation. Submissions provided by residents are generally treated as “not public” data under state law but will inform decisions about whether to approve or challenge the acquisition.
“Proposed health care consolidation requires close scrutiny,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison. “As we have done with other transactions, we are conducting a thorough review of this potential acquisition to ensure it complies with the law and is in the public interest. As long as I am Attorney General, I will use every tool at my disposal to both improve and defend the people of Minnesota’s access to quality, affordable healthcare.”
If approved, Allina would become Sutter Health’s Upper Midwest Division while keeping its name, brand and headquarters in Minneapolis. Lisa Shannon would continue as President and CEO of Allina; Warner Thomas would serve as President and CEO for both organizations combined.
The Attorney General’s Office also plans to hold a public meeting at a future date so community members can share their input directly before any final decision is made.
