Penalty Amount
$1,412,776
Consumers Affected
3,478
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison reached a settlement with Stevens Community Medical Center (SCMC) over allegations that SCMC improperly calculated discounts required for uninsured patients with household incomes under $125,000, violating the Minnesota Hospital Agreement and state law. As a result, some uninsured patients were billed up to 20.5% more than allowed. SCMC must provide up to $1,412,776.25 in refunds or medical-debt reductions to potentially eligible patients.
SCMC must notify 3,478 patients who received services from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2025 of a potential additional discount in the form of a refund or reduction in outstanding medical debt. If patients verify household income was under $125,000 at the time of services, SCMC must provide the refund or debt adjustment based on the correct discount calculation.
In-house legal teams at healthcare providers and hospitals should review vendor agreements with billing and revenue cycle management companies, third-party collection agencies, and payment plan administrators to ensure compliance with state uninsured billing laws and regulatory agreements such as the Minnesota Hospital Agreement. Specifically, they should examine clauses related to discount calculation methodologies (e.g., 'most favored insurer' provisions), charity care and financial assistance policies, and prohibitions on aggressive debt collection. They should also verify that their contracts require vendors to flag and prevent overbilling of uninsured patients, and include indemnification and audit rights for billing errors. Additionally, any payer contracts should be reviewed to determine the 'highest discount provided to any private insurer' for purposes of calculating uninsured discounts under Minn. Stat. § 144.589.
Entity
Stevens Community Medical Center
Industry
Healthcare"Stevens Community Medical Center (SCMC) of Morris, Minnesota"
"up to $1,412,776.25 in refunds or reductions in medical debt"
"Minn. Stat. § 144.589"
"SCMC improperly calculated the discount it was required to provide to uninsured patients with household incomes under $125,000"
"notify 3,478 patients"
"August 10, 2026"
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison issued a consumer alert explaining how veterans, their families, and others who believe Trajector Holdings owes them money can file claims in the company’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The release announces no privacy violation, enforcement penalty, or remedy against the company.
Minnesota and 39 other attorneys general filed a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds, including children’s private chatbot conversations. The states seek protections for consumers in any sale or transfer of the business or assets; the filing does not impose a penalty or establish a final remedy.
The Minnesota Attorney General filed an Assurance of Discontinuance requiring Auto Tech Donations, Inc. to dissolve after finding that its solicitations and governance did not comply with state requirements. Its president was banned from forming or serving as an officer or director of nonprofits and must provide restitution to donors whose vehicles he resold for personal benefit.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and a coalition of 26 states, counties, and cities filed a lawsuit challenging NHTSA’s rule weakening fuel-economy standards for new cars and light trucks. The coalition alleges the rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Energy Policy and Conservation Act; the press release describes a lawsuit filing, not a monetary penalty or final judgment.
A federal court granted summary judgment to Minnesota AG Keith Ellison and a coalition of 22 attorneys general in their lawsuit challenging the CFPB Acting Director’s decision not to seek funding. The court held the refusal unlawful and required the current Acting Director to request necessary funding so the CFPB can continue operating.
$35.0M
Minnesota, the FTC, and a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general reached a proposed settlement with Corteva over alleged loyalty programs that restricted pesticide distributors from buying lower-cost generic products. Corteva must end the challenged practices, comply with restrictions for 10 years, and pay $35 million to the state plaintiffs, including $1.25 million to Minnesota.