HealthPartners and Essentia Health have announced plans to combine their organisations after their boards approved an affiliation agreement. The Minnesota-based nonprofit health systems aim to expand access to care and health coverage, strengthen specialist services, improve the use of technology and support more affordable healthcare.

The two organisations have complementary capabilities across healthcare delivery, health insurance, urban and rural care, research, medical education and innovation. Their combination is expected to create one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the region.

The combined organisation will include 22 hospitals, more than 135 clinics and around 6,000 clinicians, expanding access to healthcare across Minnesota and the wider Upper Midwest.

The organisations plan to build on their existing quality and clinical performance records while improving access to specialist services, advanced clinical programmes, telehealth and coordinated care. Local care teams and community relationships will remain an important part of the combined system.

The new organisation will also focus on making healthcare and coverage easier to access and navigate. HealthPartners’ integrated care and health plan model will support efforts to manage healthcare costs and improve affordability.

The combination is expected to increase investment in digital health, research, data analytics and workforce development. Essentia Health’s research and education programmes provide more than 500,000 hours of training each year, while HealthPartners trains more than 600 residents and fellows annually and supports hundreds of clinical trials and research studies.

Around 45,000 employees will form part of the combined organisation. The larger system is expected to provide expanded career development, education and academic partnership opportunities.

The combined organisation will operate under the HealthPartners name, with current HealthPartners President and CEO Andrea Walsh leading the organisation. Essentia Health CEO David Herman will become president of the combined clinical care group operations. Essentia Health facilities will continue using the Essentia Health name as the organisations integrate their operations.

Subject to customary regulatory approvals, the combination is expected to take effect on 1 January 2027. HealthPartners and Essentia Health expect patients and members to continue receiving their existing care and coverage without interruption.

 

Source: businesswire.com

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