Amid concerning numbers for Minnesota's uninsured rate, a new statewide research project created by the Legislature is connecting the dots in trying to make health care affordable for everyone.
Recently, the Minnesota Department of Health said the state's uninsured rate increased from a historic low of 3.8% in 2023 to 5.8% last year.
Alex Caldwell, director of the department's Center for Health Care Affordability, said it's one of the many reasons the state has to dig deeper in finding meaningful answers that get to the bottom of cost barriers. Since its launch, Caldwell said, the center has created a pair of task forces. One is comprised of patients, consumers and others who want to illustrate and get a better understanding of why people are reluctant to seek out important care.
"You know, 'I needed to get a surgery,' or 'I was in pain.' They're increasingly reporting, year-over-year, that they're forgoing that care," she said.
Caldwell said these task forces are new and are still figuring where to focus their analysis. She said she understands the urgency felt by health consumers struggling with mounting expenses who want solutions now. But she said with federal spending cuts impacting assistance programs and other market forces still playing out, they need to see the whole picture before cementing certain ideas.
Caldwell said task force members will also look at any lingering transparency issues, so that health consumers know exactly what they're paying for when assessing care needs.
"What choices they might want to talk about at their dining room table," she said, "and figure out, 'is this worth it for our family?"
The new research initiative will look at moves made by other states, including increased oversight of health care consolidation, to see whether they can improve affordability for Minnesotans. These conversations coincide with a major health acquisition announced this week involving regional provider Allina Health. Sacramento-based Sutter Health plans to acquire the health system. In Minnesota's most populous county, local officials now warn of the possible closure of Hennepin County Medical Center.
