Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison is asking for the community to weigh in on a proposed acquisition of Allina Health by Sutter Health.

On March 17, a letter of intent for Allina Health to join Sutter Health was signed, and Ellison will now review the proposed acquisition under the state’s health care transaction law.

RELATED: Allina Health to be acquired by California-based Sutter Health

Public comments on the proposal can be submitted through an online community input form.

The Department of Health and Ellison are jointly tasked with evaluating the proposal’s impact on patients and the health care workforce, and how it could affect health care options, access and affordability.

“Proposed health care consolidation requires close scrutiny,” Ellison said. “As we have done with other transactions, we are conducting a thorough review of this potential acquisition to ensure it complies with the law and is in the public interest. As long as I am Attorney General, I will use every tool at my disposal to both improve and defend the people of Minnesota’s access to quality, affordable healthcare.”

If the proposal passes, Allina Health would become Sutter Health’s Upper Midwest Division while keeping its name, brand and regional headquarters in Minneapolis.

Lisa Shannon would continue as Allina’s President and CEO, and Sutter’s President and CEO, Warner Thomas, would continue leading the combined organization.

Sutter HealthThe non-profit headquartered in Sacramento, California, has 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, who serve over 3.5 million patients, most of whom live in Northern and Central California.Allina HealthThe nonprofit headquartered in Minneapolis serves Minnesota and western Wisconsin.It operates 12 hospital campuses, more than 60 primary care clinics, 20 same-day/urgent care centers and more than 100 specialty sites.About 27,000 people, including 6,700 providers, are employed.
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