December 5, 2003 - A diabetes expert testified for the defense today at the felony manslaughter trial of Congressman Bill Janklow. The former South Dakota governor is alleged to have run a stop sign at high speed last August, into the path of an on-coming motorcycle. The motorcycle's rider, Randy Scott, died at the scene. Janklow's attorneys are trying to show Janklow, who is a diabetic suffered a sharp drop in blood sugar just before the crash.
December 5, 2003 - Six hospitals in Minnesota have signed up to participate in a pilot program with Medicare. Some experts say it could eventually change the entire health care marketplace. It's called the Hospital Quality Incentive Demonstration Project. Scott Smith is here to talk more on this program.
December 9, 2003 - Several advocates for the poor say some Minnesota pharmacies are violating federal law. They say the pharmacists are refusing to provide drugs to low income people who can't afford a new drug copay required by the state. Federal law says pharmacies are required to give medicine to people who say they can't afford it. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
December 10, 2003 - A report published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association said that the supplement Echinacea may still be helpful in preventing infection, and that the study itself indicates a greater acceptance within the medical profession.
December 10, 2003 - Fears about the severity of this year's influenza strain have depleted vaccine supplies around the country. Many clinics and doctors offices in the state have already run out of the vaccine. The Twin Cities campus of the University of Minnesota expects to exhaust its flu vaccine supply Friday. The Minnesota Department of Health today sponsored a round of flu shot clinics around the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Kris Ehrsmann is the section chief for immunization, tuberculosis and international health at the Health Department. She said today's clinics were busy, but vaccine is still available.
December 12, 2003 - Hundreds of people lined up outside of the Minnesota Department of Health's office in St. Paul today in hopes of getting a flu shot. Demand for the vaccine has increased in the last week after the two manufacturers who make the vaccine said they've run out and won't be able to make any more in the near future. Twenty-four states to date have reported a widespread flu outbreak. The concern has also prompted some Minnesota health plans to reverse an earlier decision and start covering the cost of FluMist, a new, more expensive, nasal vaccine. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports....
December 16, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty's Bioscience Council is recommending that the state invest more than $234-million dollars in Minnesota's biotech industry. The group finalized the proposals it wants Pawlenty to present to the Legislature in February. The package also calls for guaranteeing up to 200-million dollars in venture capital investments. Backers admit parts of the plan will be a tough sell at the Capitol. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
December 16, 2003 - Senate DFLers are the latest group at the state Capitol to propose a plan to reduce the growth in health care costs. The proposal would restore some of the cuts to state subsidized health insurance programs, would cap health care premium increases and would invest more money in education for health care professionals. The rising cost of health care is likely to be a hot issue in the upcoming legislative session. House Republicans have proposed a dramatically different plan and a task force appointed by the governor is also working on the issue. I'm Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
December 17, 2003 - Late December brings with it a flurry of lists summing up the year. We took that opportunity to commission our regular medical analyst to take stock of the year's biggest medical stories. Dr. Jon Hallberg is the medical director of the Primary Care Center at the University of Minnesota. His chronological review of the year's top ten takes us back to late last year with the effort to prevent a small pox outbreak.
December 18, 2003 - Governor Pawlenty says he wants to discipline the state doctors who decided against recommending civil commitment for Alfonso Rodriguez Junior. Rodriguez was charged two weeks ago with kidnapping 22 year old Dru Sjodin. The convicted sex offender was released in May even though some evaluations say Rodriguez had a high likelihood of reoffending. Rodriguez has maintained his innocence in Sjodin's disappearance. While Pawlenty is considering punishment for the doctors who assessed Rodriguez, Minnesota's attorney general and other DFLers say they're concerned that budget cuts led to the oversight. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.