Health and Human Services says Blue Cross care coordination will shift to Lutheran Social Services; 157 Pine County clients affected

Health and Human Services staff provided an update on a contract transition that will move care coordination for Blue Cross Blue Shield enrollees to Lutheran Social Services. Staff said the transition begins on 09/01 for new clients and will be administratively complete by 10/01, with some carryover work into early October. "There is a 157 individuals in Pine County that are currently getting their care coordination... through Pine County contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield that will now transition to get their care coordination through Lutheran social services," the presenter said.

The presenter told commissioners the county completed a required desk audit in July and that the program has been "100% compliant" for seven straight years; staff said they do not anticipate service loss and that three staff who currently do the work are cross‑training on new case-management duties. The update also summarized legislative changes that expand remote MNChoices assessments, propose payment‑methodology changes (with a statewide savings target of about $18 million), and include reductions in some waiver services and new nursing-home surcharges; staff warned of possible county cost shifts beginning 07/01/2027.

Why it matters: the change affects continuity of case management for older adults and Medicaid recipients in Pine County and requires close coordination to avoid service disruptions for 157 clients; budget and service-model shifts at the state level may also create future county funding pressures.