The Minnesota Paid Leave Team is being honored in Category 3: Using Innovation, Data, and Breaking Down Organizational Barriers for successfully launching Minnesota’s first Paid Family and Medical Leave program through innovative partnerships and data-driven solutions. Building the program from the ground up, the team collaborated with the state’s existing Unemployment Insurance program to leverage wage data, accelerating development, improving accuracy, and reducing costs. They also integrated the program with M Health Fairview’s Epic MyChart electronic health record system, allowing applicants to verify qualifying medical events more easily while reducing paperwork for healthcare providers.

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By connecting systems that traditionally operated independently, the team streamlined the application process, strengthened fraud prevention, and created a more seamless experience for workers, healthcare providers, and state employees. Their collaborative approach enabled Minnesota to launch the program two months ahead of schedule and $70 million under budget, demonstrating exceptional fiscal stewardship and cross-agency coordination.

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The new program is already delivering meaningful benefits to Minnesotans. Within its first three months, it received more than 100,000 applications and distributed $250 million in benefits to over 42,000 eligible residents, providing critical financial support for workers caring for a new child, recovering from illness, or supporting family members in need. Through innovation, data sharing, and human-centered design, the Minnesota Paid Leave Team has established a model for modern, efficient public service that improves access while maximizing the value of taxpayer resources.