https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/minnesota-health-systems-healthpartners-essentia-health-announce-plan-to-mergeContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/minnesota-health-systems-healthpartners-essentia-health-announce-plan-to-mergehttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/minnesota-health-systems-healthpartners-essentia-health-announce-plan-to-merge#u94333Fri, 02 Oct 2026 09:20:47 +0000Bloomington-based HealthPartners and Duluth-based Essentia Health announced plans to combine into a single healthcare system, creating one of the largest nonprofit networks in the upper Midwest. The proposed organization would feature 22 hospitals and more than 135 clinics operating across Minnesota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Leadership from both health systems approved the affiliation agreement, which is targeted to take effect in January 2027. The announcement marks the third major health system merger proposed in Minnesota over a six-month span, prompting heightened scrutiny from state l