August 30, 2001 - (to follow scheck) Former state epidemiologist Mike Osterholm says Minnesota State Fair organizers are wise to take such strong precautions against the spread of infectious diseases, in particular Foot and Mouth:
September 4, 2001 - (to follow NPR piece on efforts to control the virus in houston) Twin Cities mosquito control officials say its just a matter of time before West Nile virus shows up in the Minnesota. Two dead crows found in Wisconsin tested positive for the virus last week. Jim Stark is public affairs director for the Metropolitian Mosquito Control District. He says the virus is spreading across the U-S more quickly than most people thought:
September 5, 2001 - Healthcare premiums increased more than sixteen percent last year, according to a survey released today by the state health department. Its the third sharp jump in as many years and puts the price of premiums at their highest point in a decade. Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm says part of the problem lies with consumers:
September 5, 2001 - The church needs to provide health resources to African Americans in order to help bring illnesses and unplanned pregnancies down.
September 7, 2001 - New board members for both Allina's Hospitals and Clinics and the Medica HMO say they're shocked at the spending practices of the companies' out-going management. Attorney General Mike Hatch has released another portion of his audit of Allina, this part covering travel and entertainment expenses. Hatch has been investigating the company since last year and says executives spent millions of dollars unrelated to health care. However, some former board members say many of the health care expenditures were warranted. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
September 11, 2001 - The state of Minnesota will resume contract negotiations with two of its unions on Thursday in hopes of averting a strike. The Minnesota Association of Professional Employees and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Council 6 say they'll strike next Monday (SEPT 17th) if a contract agreement cannot be reached. Lead negotiators say the major unresolved issues include pay raises and health benefits. Health economists and labor experts say health care costs are becoming a major issue in labor negotiations as insurance premiums continue to rise at double digit rates. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
September 19, 2001 - Medtronic officials have advised their 26-thousand employees to curtail nonessential air travel until further notice. Fridley-based Medtronic spends about 50 million dollars a year on airfares and books an average of 37-hundred employee flights a month. CEO Art Collins says he decided to limit travel after many of his employees were stranded in New York and Washington during last week's terrorist attack.
September 20, 2001 -
September 21, 2001 - President Bush is urging Americans to keep making donations in support of the victims of last week's terrorist attacks. Hundreds of millions of dollars have already poured into several large national charities. Officials with Minnesota charitable organizations say they've been amazed by the level of giving, but they're also concerned about their ability to meet ongoing, local needs. Minnesota Public Radio's Tim Pugmire reports.
September 24, 2001 - Dr. John Christianson is the director of the Carlson School's Center for the Study of Healthcare Management. Dr. Christianson says he doubts the changes brought by the Attorney General's audit will have much of an effect on the costs of health care. He says there are bigger factors influencing the growth of consumer health care costs.