Attorney General Ellison to hold second community forum on proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health

July 21, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is inviting members of the public to share their opinions on the proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health at a second community forum on Wednesday, July 29 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in Faribault, Minnesota. The forum is open to members of the media and public, and the location will be shared with those who RSVP here. Those who wish to share their opinions about the merger are also asked to fill out this brief form. Members of the media interested in attending and covering the forum can RSVP here.

The Attorney General will review the proposed transaction under the state’s health care transaction law (Minn. Stat. 145D.01), charities law, and antitrust law, to determine compliance, including whether the transaction is in the public interest. Under Minnesota law, the Attorney General, in consultation with the Department of Health, evaluates a health care transaction’s impact on patients and the health care workforce, including how the transaction may affect health care options, access, affordability. The Attorney General does not approve or deny transactions but can bring a lawsuit to block transactions that violate the law or are otherwise contrary to the public interest. 

The Attorney General’s Office will consider all public input as part of its review. Submissions are generally treated as “not public” data under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act. The feedback provided by the public will help in the Office’s evaluation of the proposed transaction.

Forum details: 

How to provide input, if you cannot attend the July 29 forum: 

“Consistent with its legal obligations, my office is continuing to conduct a thorough review of this potential acquisition to ensure it complies with the law and is in the public interest,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison. “This review includes hearing directly from the people of Minnesota about how this proposed transaction will affect them and their loved ones. Given the significance of this proposed transaction to Minnesotans, a second community meeting is warranted. I remain committed to using all the tools at my disposal to defend the people of Minnesota’s access to quality, affordable healthcare.” 

Details of the Proposed Transaction 

On March 17, 2026, Sutter Health and Allina Health announced they had signed a letter of intent for Allina to join Sutter Health. 

Allina Health is a nonprofit health system headquartered in Minneapolis, serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin. It operates 12 hospital campuses, more than 60 primary care clinics, 20 same-day/urgent care centers, and over 100 specialty sites. It employs about 27,000 people, including 6,700 providers.

Sutter Health is a nonprofit integrated health system headquartered in Sacramento, CA, with 27 hospitals and more than 200 clinics, imaging centers, surgery centers, and home health services. It employs about 57,000 people, including over 14,000 clinicians, serving more than 3.5 million patients primarily in Northern and Central California. 

Under the proposal, Allina would become Sutter Health’s Upper Midwest Division while retaining its name, brand, and regional headquarters in Minneapolis. Lisa Shannon would remain Allina’s President and CEO. Sutter’s President and CEO Warner Thomas would lead the combined organization.