Lawmakers press Walz on 24/7 nursing coverage
Forty-five bipartisan Minnesota lawmakers sent Gov. Tim Walz a letter urging him to direct the Commerce Department to enforce a 2010 law and restore insurer coverage for 24/7 home nursing.[1]
Lawmakers say recent coverage caps imposed by major insurers have left roughly 250 families without needed round-the-clock care, and they highlighted a Keis family complaint that the Department of Commerce closed without enforcement action.[1] The letter was sent in June 2026 and asks Walz to order immediate corrective action from Commerce.[1]
A 2010 Minnesota law requires commercial insurance plans to cover medically necessary home nursing for patients who also receive Medicaid.[1] Walz's office replied that he supports stronger protections through legislation and has told Commerce to act within its existing authority, but the state has not publicly disclosed any specific orders or penalties against the insurers.[1]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📌 Key Facts
- A 2010 Minnesota law requires commercial insurance plans to cover medically necessary home nursing for patients who also receive Medicaid.
- For about 15 years, Medica and HealthPartners paid for 24/7 (or near‑24/7) nursing; in the past year both imposed new caps, affecting roughly 250 families.
- The Keis family’s complaint to the Minnesota Department of Commerce over Medica’s cuts was closed with no enforcement action.
- Forty‑five bipartisan lawmakers sent Gov. Tim Walz a letter in June 2026 urging him to direct Commerce to enforce the 2010 law and restore full coverage.
- Walz’s office responded that he supports stronger protections via legislation and has told Commerce to act within its existing authority, but no specific corrective orders or penalties against the insurers have been disclosed.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time