Clinical Pharmacist Infectious Diseases Specialist

HealthPartners launches program to expand access to CGM technology for people living with diabetes. September 14, 2026 BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - HealthPartners will soon begin enrolling members in a new quality improvement program designed to expand access to continuous glucose monitor (CGM) technology and provide personalized support for people living with insulin-requiring diabetes. The program aims to develop a more accessible and sustainable model for CGM care by pairing technology with support from community-based Medication Therapy Management (MTM) pharmacists. Enrollment is expected to begin Nov. 1, 2026, with a goal of reaching approximately 500 members living with type 1 diabetes or insulin-treated type 2 diabetes. CGMs are small, wearable devices that continuously measure glucose levels throughout the day and night, providing real-time information about glucose trends and patterns. Unlike traditional finger-stick testing, CGMs can help people better understand how factors such as food, activity and medications affect their glucose levels. Research shows CGM use can improve outcomes for people living with diabetes, including helping reduce complications and diabetes-related hospitalizations. However, cost, access, technology support and uncertainty about how to interpret CGM data can create barriers for many people. "Diabetes technology keeps advancing, and CGMs are a great example of that," said Ginger Kakacek, MD, chief medical officer, HealthPartners health plan. "But access to the technology and ongoing support for patients, particularly those in rural communities, hasn't always kept up." To help address these barriers, HealthPartners will partner with its contracted MTM pharmacist network to provide members with ongoing education and support in their local communities. Pharmacists will help members start using CGMs, troubleshoot challenges, understand their glucose data and connect patterns to everyday health decisions. Over the next two years, HealthPartners will evaluate if this model supports CGM use, reduces disparities, improves diabetes management and improves member engagement. The program will track measures including CGM adoption, glucose-related outcomes and diabetes care indicators to better understand what approaches can help more people benefit from this technology. "This effort reflects our commitment to using innovation with intention, combining technology, community partnerships and personalized support to improve health outcomes," Dr. Kakacek said. As part of the quality improvement initiative, HealthPartners Institute's International Diabetes Center (IDC) is providing clinical and operational leadership through creation of evidence-based CGM management guidance and educational resources for type 1 and insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, development of pharmacist training modules, and dissemination of project findings. IDC is also serving as a clinical expert and partner in pilot implementation and evaluation. HealthPartners health plan and MTM Pharmacy Services teams are leading engagement with contracted community-based MTM pharmacists, building the community pharmacy network, identifying eligible members, supporting pharmacist recruitment and training, and conducting member and pharmacist outreach efforts to expand CGM access and improve diabetes management in underserved communities across Minnesota. The program is supported through a $4.2 million grant to the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) from the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust . The grant is being shared among four ACHP member health plans. The funding will support program development, staffing, supplies and implementation costs. Additional support from CGM manufacturers Dexcom and Abbott will help remove cost barriers for participating members. About HealthPartners HealthPartners is a nonprofit organization with a mission of improving health and well-being in partnership with its members, patients and community. An integrated system of care and coverage since its founding in 1957, HealthPartners operates hospitals and clinics, health plans, and a research and education institute. The Minneapolis-based organization serves more than 1.4 million patients in Minnesota and Wisconsin and 1.4 million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. For more information, visit healthpartners.com.

HealthPartners President and CEO Andrea Walsh named a 2026 Fierce 50 honoree. September 3, 2026 BLOOMINGTON, Minn. - HealthPartners President and CEO Andrea Walsh has been named one of the 2026 Fierce 50 honorees, recognizing individuals and organizations driving advancements in medicine, fostering innovation and shaping the future of health care and biopharma. Selected by the editors of Fierce Healthcare, Fierce Biotech and Fierce Pharma, the annual Fierce 50 honors leaders and organizations making meaningful contributions, including advancing scientific discovery, improving community health to expanding access and reimagining how care is delivered. "It's an honor to be recognized among leaders who are working to make health care better for people and communities," Walsh says. "This is a reflection of the incredible work of our 28,000 colleagues who bring expertise, compassion and a spirit of innovation to everything they do. Together, we're focused on making care and coverage simpler, more affordable and easier to access while building trusted relationships with the patients, members and the communities we serve." Walsh has served as president and CEO of HealthPartners since 2017, leading one of the nation's largest nonprofit, consumer-governed health care organizations. The Minnesota-based integrated health system provides health plan coverage to 1.6 million members and health care services to 1.4 million patients. During her tenure, HealthPartners has continued to build on its reputation as a national leader in high-quality, affordable care and coverage. Walsh has focused on building healthy, high-performing teams and strengthening partnerships to improve health equity, children's health, mental health and other important areas of community health and well-being. Before becoming president and CEO, Walsh served for nearly 15 years as executive vice president and chief marketing officer at HealthPartners. She previously served as corporate counsel, leading legal, compliance and public affairs. Walsh is on the boards of the Y of the North and the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. In 2020, she was named Executive of the Year by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, and in 2025 she was inducted into Twin Cities Business magazine's Minnesota Business Hall of Fame. "Now in its fourth year, the Fierce 50 continues to show that progress in this industry doesn't come from just one place," said Ayla Ellison, editor-in-chief of Fierce Life Sciences and Healthcare. "It's showing up in the lab, in executive leadership, in community clinics and in advocacy work that never makes headlines. These honorees remind us that impact takes a lot of different shapes. We're honored to celebrate all of them." About HealthPartners HealthPartners is a nonprofit organization with a mission of improving health and well-being in partnership with its members, patients and community. An integrated system of care and coverage since its founding in 1957, HealthPartners operates hospitals and clinics, health plans, and a research and education institute. The Minneapolis-based organization serves more than 1.4 million patients in Minnesota and Wisconsin and 1.6 million medical and dental health plan members nationwide. For more information, visit healthpartners.com.