Attorney General’s office charges nine people with Medicaid fraud totaling $3 million

For the third time this year — there’s a proposed merger involving major healthcare systems in Minnesota. This time it’s Twin Cities-based HealthPartners and Duluth-based Essentia Health that are planning to combine under the HealthPartners name.

The Minnesota Attorney General’s office has charged nine people with Medicaid fraud totaling $3 million. Of that money allegedly stolen from Minnesota’s Medicaid programs, $2 million is connected to Peter Meilahn. He’s a Duluth resident who provided psychotherapy and mental health services through his own practice and worked as an independent contracted therapist for Franklin Family Services.

Starting Thursday, thousands of immigrants in Minnesota will lose access to Medicaid benefits. Refugees and asylees used to have those benefits while they awaited a green card, but a new federal law taking effect Thursday makes them ineligible.

A Roosevelt High School teacher in Minneapolis who was violently detained by federal agents outside the school in January has filed a claim against the government.