Lucas Nesse
President and CEO
Lucas Nesse joined the Minnesota Council of Health Plans as its President and CEO in 2019. In this role, Nesse works with the state’s non-profit health plans to advance high quality and affordable health care for Minnesotans.
Prior to assuming his role at the Council, Lucas was the director of health policy for the Minnesota Business Partnership, a large employer membership organization. Nesse previously served in staff leadership roles for the Minnesota State Senate.
Nesse is an ex-officio Board member of Minnesota Community Measurement, a collaboration-based organization that collects, analyzes, and shares actionable data on health care quality and cost. He also serves in an advisory role for the Board of TPT, a PBS affiliate that produces and broadcasts public media programming in the Twin Cities and its surrounding areas.
Nesse earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Gustavus Adolphus College and his Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law.
Council news
2023
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The Minnesota Council of Health Plans appointed Dana Erickson chair of the Board of Directors. Erickson is president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.
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The Minnesota Council of Health Plans released an educational toolkit with resources and information to help Minnesotans keep their coverage as Medicaid renewals resume after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
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The Minnesota Council of Health Plans and several health plans launched an educational campaign to build awareness about the importance of making sure children are up-to-date on immunizations.
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Council releases 2022 nonprofit industry financial report
Minnesota’s nonprofit health plans continued supporting Minnesotans’ access to affordable, quality care in 2022, paying $16.7 billion in medical bills on behalf of 2.6 million people enrolled in the state’s fully insured or government programs, the Minnesota Council of Health Plans announced today.
2022
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The Minnesota Council of Health Plans has appointed Andrea Walsh chair of the association’s board of directors. Walsh, the president and CEO of HealthPartners, takes over for John Naylor, president and CEO of Medica. [caption id="attachment_6994" align="alignleft" width="236"] Andrea Walsh, president and CEO, HealthPartners[/caption] The Council works to foster collaboration among its nonprofit health plan […]
2023
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StarTribune
Medicaid shift could push 200,000 people to employer health plans in Minnesota
Employer health plans could see an enrollment surge as part of the state's push starting this summer to check Medicaid eligibility for some 1.5 million people in Minnesota.
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StarTribune
Thousands of Minnesotans at risk of losing health insurance get a one-month reprieve
Minnesota is pushing back a Medicaid re-enrollment deadline to Aug. 1, buying time for 35,500 state residents whose publicly subsidized health benefits were set to expire in July.
2021
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StarTribune
Our Best Shot: Cost is not a reason to avoid getting a COVID shot
The COVID-19 vaccine is free. For patients, there are no out-of-pocket expenses. No copay. No coinsurance. No office visit fee. No bill even if you haven't met your annual deductible.
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StarTribune
Results soar at Minnesota’s seven big health insurers as claims fall amid pandemic
Legal settlements and delayed care amid the pandemic drove a surge in operating income last year for Minnesota's nonprofit health insurers. The COVID-19 impact was widely noted last spring as a shutdown in elective procedures caused use of medical services to plummet.
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StarTribune
Questions surface over Minnesota’s COVID-19 testing contract
Minnesota public health officials talk with pride of the free statewide COVID-19 testing system they set up last year, but questions are mounting about the cost of the no-bid contract they negotiated and a key pricing amendment still in the works.
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