At Tuesday's gathering of the MNsure Oversight Committee, Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, had a simple question for health exchange officials: "Is it ready?

The Minnesota Department of Human Services failed to comply with state and federal requirements to verify Social Security numbers and income eligibility for MinnesotaCare participants, according to a new report by the Office of the Legislative Auditor. The problems with verification were first identified by auditors a decade ago, but DHS has failed to resolve with the issue.

A preliminary audit of the state’s Medicaid rates released on March 1 determined that they were “actuarially sound.” That’s the finding that Minnesota Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson repeatedly stressed during a phone call with reporters the day the report was released.

In November, the Minnesota Department of Human Services hired the Segal Company to audit the state's Medicaid rates from 2003 to 2011. The Atlanta-based company was awarded a $150,000 contract to scrutinize Minnesota's rate-setting methodology.

Timothy Coon could spend his whole life confined to the Minnesota Sex Offender Program for actions he committed as a juvenile. And there are more than 50 others like him inside the walls of MSOP.

On Monday the Department of Human Services announced that it was seeking an independent audits of the state's Medicaid rates from 2003 to 2011. In the letter announcing the probe, DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson stated that the request for proposals had been developed in "consultation" with the Legislative Auditor.

The Department of Human Services is initiating an independent audit of the state's Medicaid rates between 2003 and 2011. DHS Commissioner Lucinda Jesson outlined the plan in a letter Monday to legislative leaders

On March 16 last year, Gov. Mark Dayton announced some seemingly excellent news: UCare had decided to make a $30 million “donation” to help solve the state’s $5 billion budget deficit.

A year ago, the Legislative Audit Commission passed over a proposal to evaluate the way state agencies prepare the fiscal notes that have long served as the basis for doing state budgets. One year later, amid a session punctuated by public disputes about their accuracy, the commission made an investigation of fiscal notes one of the highest priorities for Legislative Auditor James Nobles and his staff.

The Minnesota Department of Commerce faces a balancing act between supporting the growth of the industries it regulates and keeping their business practices on the straight and narrow.