Minnesota Attorney General Investigates Allina Health System's PR Spending

Minnesota's largest health care system Allina Health System has been under the close scrutiny of the Minnesota attorney general. At issue is whether Allina improperly spent money on outside consultants and executive perks. According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Allina spent over $300,000 this spring on "crisis management" consultants. Court documents filed yesterday in Hennepin County District Court show that Medica, the managed-care arm of Allina, spent at least $48 million over the past three years on outside consultants who provided no health care and instead offered training and management help to Medica executives. The Star Tribune also reports that Allina hired consultants to compile information on area reporters to determine which would be sympathetic to pro-Allina pitches. See also O'Dwyer's PR Daily.