Interim Update Dear friends and neighbors, It has been another beautiful weekend in Northern Minnesota, and I am pleased to officially declare that summer is in full swing. The signs are everywhere: orange construction cones have returned in full force, the lakes are calling, and community calendars are packed tighter than the Minnesota State Fair parking lot on a Saturday afternoon. Over the past few weeks, I’ve loved traveling throughout the district, attending local parades and events, visiting with residents, and hearing directly from you about the issues that matter most to our communities. While the legislative session has wrapped up, the work certainly hasn’t slowed down. Behind the scenes, there are still plenty of conversations, meetings, and preparations underway as we continue tackling the challenges facing our state and planning for the months ahead. As always, I’ll keep you updated as developments unfold. But for now, grab a cup of coffee (or maybe a lemonade if you’re embracing summer properly), sit back, and let’s dive into some of this week’s highlights! Small Town, Big Fun! There’s something so special about summer in northwest Minnesota, and nowhere is that more evident than in Climax on Small Town Saturday. With a population of just 243 people, Climax somehow transforms into the place to be every June as visitors from across the region roll into town for one of the most beloved summer traditions around. From the bike-hike-run and parade to the car show, tractor pull, bonfire, and everything in between, there truly is something for everyone. And let’s talk about the food—because if there’s one thing small towns know how to do, it’s feed people well. Homemade favorites, friendly faces, and an atmosphere that feels like one big neighborhood gathering make this event such a standout year after year. I was grateful to attend this past weekend and celebrate alongside the incredible people who make this event happen. I want to give a big shoutout to Nancy and Ellen, who brought their kindness and patriotism to the day, and thank you to everyone in Climax who puts in the hard work to organize such a fun, welcoming tradition for our region. Small towns really do know how to do summer best!  DHS Revalidation Of Medicaid ProvidersWhen people think about Minnesota government's waste and fraud, they usually imagine a few isolated bad actors slipping through the cracks. What DHS just uncovered feels a lot less like “a few cracks” and a lot more like the entire sidewalk caving in. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) recently released the results of its revalidation of providers in 13 high-risk Medicaid programs after the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) stepped in and essentially said, “Minnesota, you need to double-check who you’re writing checks to.” And thank goodness they did. The review was required in order to restore federal confidence in Minnesota’s Medicaid system and prevent a staggering $2 billion cut in federal Medicaid funding. Providers were required to verify they were legitimate by submitting documentation on ownership, staffing, licensure, fingerprint background checks, and completing on-site visits. Here’s the jaw-dropping part: out of 5,583 providers reviewed, only 37% were revalidated and allowed to continue providing services. Read that again. More than 63% of providers in these high-risk programs were disenrolled. 2,491 providers were removed because of incomplete or inaccurate information. Another 916 failed site visits. Four failed ownership background checks. And 111 providers had apparently already stopped providing services altogether. Naturally, that raises a few questions. Were any of those providers who “stopped providing services” still billing Medicaid? Of the hundreds that failed site visits, how many were actually operating in the first place? And how much taxpayer money was sent out the door before anyone thought to verify whether these providers were legitimate? Minnesotans work far too hard for their tax dollars to accept this level of dysfunction as normal. These programs are meant to serve vulnerable people—seniors, individuals with disabilities, struggling families, and children who truly need care and support. Instead, what we found was years of failed oversight and weak internal controls, and a system left so wide open that apparently all you needed was a clipboard and a pulse to get through the front door. I am grateful CMS finally stepped in to restore some accountability and integrity to the process because, frankly, without this revalidation requirement, we may have continued shoveling millions of taxpayer dollars out the door with little idea of who was receiving it or whether services were actually being provided. This cannot become just another headline people forget about next week. Minnesotans deserve answers, accountability, and a government that verifies where taxpayer dollars are going before signing the check. But let me also be very clear: not every provider caught up in this mess is a bad actor. I have heard directly from providers all across Minnesota who are hardworking, legitimate people serving their communities every single day, and many of them were still swept into this chaos because of government failure. Some were dealing with clerical errors. Some never received proper notice from DHS. Others were never clearly informed about what was required or even when deadlines were approaching. That is unacceptable. The Walz administration needs to own this failure. This happened under their watch, in their own backyard, and now legitimate Minnesota providers are being forced to carry the burden of the administration’s incompetence. We absolutely need to root out fraud and hold criminals accountable, but we cannot destroy legitimate providers in the process because the state failed to properly communicate and manage the operation. We also want legitimate providers to know we are listening. We want to hear their stories, visit their facilities, and shine a light on the important work being done in communities across Minnesota. Because while fraudsters deserve consequences, the honest providers caring for vulnerable Minnesotans deserve a government that can at least manage to send the right paperwork to the right address. Erskine Water Carnival, Making Waves Since 1956! Where were you in 1956? I wasn’t born yet, but that year Elvis Presley released his first big hit, “Heartbreak Hotel,” the first transatlantic telephone cable was completed, IBM released its first computer that included a hard drive, the musical “My Fair Lady” premiered on Broadway… and the City of Erskine held its very first Erskine Water Carnival! Nearly 70 years later, the tradition is still going strong! Today, the Erskine Water Carnival features three full days of family fun, including the world’s largest northern pike, minnow races, a climbing wall, paddle boat races, and even a hotdog eating contest. Friday night wraps up with fireworks at dusk followed by a street dance. On Sunday, there is a church service on the lake, and a grand parade at 4:00 PM! Events like this are what make northwest Minnesota summers so special. Thank you to the organizers, volunteers, businesses, and community members who continue making the Erskine Water Carnival such a beloved tradition year after year!   Let's Connect! As we continue through these summer months, please never hesitate to stop and say hello if you see me out in the district. Whether it’s at a parade, a community event, the local coffee shop, or somewhere between road construction detours, I always appreciate the chance to visit with you, hear your concerns, and talk about the issues that matter most to your family and community. You can always reach me by email at rep.steve.gander@house.mn.gov or by phone at 651-296-5091. I always enjoy hearing from constituents, whether you have a concern, an idea, a question, or just want to make sure someone at the Capitol remembers that Greater Minnesota actually exists north of Hinckley. As always, thank you for the incredible honor of serving you. One of the greatest joys of this job has been traveling throughout the district these first few weeks of summer and seeing firsthand the wonderful people, strong communities, and hometown spirit that make our corner of Minnesota such a special place to call home. Until next time, —Representative Steve Gander |