February 6, 2004 - A Roseville cancer clinic is reeling this week following its decision to end contracts with two large Minnesota insurers who had serious concerns about patient care at the facility. Parker Hughes Cancer Center has been under investigation by the insurers and state officials for months. The Star Tribune newspaper published a series of critical investigative stories about the clinic in December. Since then the clinic says it has notice a significant decline in new patients. Yesterday the clinic and its research institute laid off 89 people - a third of its staff. Minnesota Public Radio's Lorna Benson reports.
February 19, 2004 - Several DFL lawmakers unveiled a plan today to ban smoking in all public buildings in Minnesota, including bars and restaurants. They say the ban would help reduce smoking related illnesses and boost business. Critics say the bill is unfair because state government should not impose additional regulations on businesses. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports.
February 24, 2004 - Governor Tim Pawlenty says federal concerns won't prompt him to shut down a state website that provides consumer information on Canadian pharmacies. The Food and Drug Administration sent Pawlenty a letter yesterday (MONDAY) calling the website "unsafe, unsound and ill-considered". Attorney General Mike Hatch says the FDA doesn't have any grounds for legal action against the website. Minnesota Public Radio's Laura McCallum reports...
March 3, 2004 - The Minnesota State Board of Investment adopted a resolution today that would encourage the drug company, Pfizer, and other drug companies, to change their business practices. Minnesota's pension funds own about 476 million dollars in Pfizer stock. Governor Pawlenty, who sits on the investment board, proposed the resolution after the company cut off supplies to Canadian drug wholesalers that sell to Americans. Some worry that the proposed action could decrease Pfizer's stock price and hurt retirees who depend on the state's pension fund. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 8, 2004 - Mainstreet Radio's Mark Steil reports on need for fundraisers for people who don't have insurance. Sometimes even those with insurance need help. It seems the higher medical costs rise the more fundraisers there are for people who can't pay all their bills. Dinners, raffles and auctions are a few of the ways people donate money.
March 10, 2004 - This week, a flurry of studies presented at the American College of Cardiology meeting in New Orleans could have lasting implications for treatment of patients with heart problems. One report suggested lowering cholesterol levels far below the level that most doctors consider adequate can substantially reduce the risk of heart attacks. Another suggested implantable cardiac defibrillators -- or ICDs -- could prevent sudden death in patients with moderate heart problems. A third found that drug-coated coronary stents -- which have been used to unclog large heart arteries -- are showing promise in clearing tiny heart arteries as well. Last week Minnesota-based Boston Scientific received FDA approval to sell its drug-coated stent.
March 23, 2004 - U-S health officials say patients taking anti-depressants should be closely monitored for signs of suicidal thoughts. The Food and Drug Administration stressed that it's still not clear if there's a connection between antidepressants and suicide, but yesterday it called on drug makers to put stronger warnings on their labels. The drugs under scrutiny are all newer-generation antidepressants including Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, and Wellbutrin. Dr. Jon Hallberg says the call for new warnings reinforces the notion that doctors and manufacturers need to give patients more information about the drugs they're taking.
April 20, 2004 - Recent immigrants to Minnesota may have survived torture in Latin America, war trauma in Southeast Asia, even famine in Afric, but a new study says their health may be at greatest risk after they've lived in the US for several years. The study , by the Greater Twin Cities United Way, found that many immigrants struggle with diabetes and mental health problems after they adjust to American life. More than half of the state's foreign-born population has arrived since 1990. Kathy Lentz is the Director of Community Building Strategies for the Greater Twin Cities United Way. She says the fact that many of the new arrivals are refugees raises particular health problems.
April 21, 2004 - Duluth resident Paul Ojanen gives an audio guide tour along First Street in downtown Duluth, also known as "Alcoholic Central."
April 21, 2004 - As part of the series “Keeping Track of Sex Offenders,” Mainstreet Radio’s Erin Galbally reports on sex offender ‘wound therapy’ programs in Minnesota.