HealthPartners, Essentia plan 22-hospital merger

HealthPartners and Essentia Health said their boards approved an affiliation agreement on Sept. 29, 2026, to combine into a nonprofit of 22 hospitals, more than 135 clinics, about 6,000 clinicians, 2 million patients and 45,000 employees. Pending regulatory approval, the deal would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, under the HealthPartners name and Bloomington headquarters, with Andrea Walsh as CEO and David Herman as president of combined clinical care group operations. Essentia facilities would keep their name temporarily. Walsh said the combination is about doing more for the people and communities who count on us and that together the organizations can expand access. Herman said they felt that together we could better lead into this dynamic, if not chaotic, health care environment. A coalition of healthcare unions said workers are worried about cuts to jobs and services and patients about rising costs, and called on Attorney General Keith Ellison to provide oversight. Ellison’s office said it is gathering feedback as part of its review. The proposal is the third major Minnesota health system transaction of 2026, after North Memorial’s merger into Sanford and with Allina’s proposed deal with Sutter still under review.