Governor Tim Walz appointed Gayle Kvenvold, President & CEO of LeadingAge Minnesota, to the newly-created Blue Ribbon Commission on Health and Human Services.  

The Commission will help state leaders craft a vision for long-term systematic reforms and identify near-term strategies to improve health outcomes, increase access, reduce inequities, find administrative efficiencies, expand program integrity and steward taxpayer dollars.  

“Minnesotans rely on our health and human services programs to live full and productive lives. That is why I am looking to this Blue Ribbon Commission to make recommendations on how to improve outcomes, control costs in the short run and plan for the needs of the future,” Governor Walz said. “With this public-private partnership we are relying on lived experience of program participants and expertise of industry members to boost the impact of our work and ensure that our resources are invested wisely.”

The Blue Ribbon Commission, which is chaired by Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Jodi Harpstead, will produce a report by October 2020 that includes recommendations for specific health and human services costs savings.  In addition to the 10 industry thought leaders appointed by Gov. Walz, the Commission also includes four state lawmakers – Rep. Tina Liebling, Rep. Joe Schomacker. Sen. Rich Draheim and Sen. Mike Klein.

To read more, see Blue Ribbon Commission on Health and Human Services.