MPR news and documentary programming highlighting medical and political commentary on the changing landscape of American health care. Minnesota is not only home to Mayo Clinic, UCare, and Hazelden, it has been at the forefront of the health discussion, from the state’s historic tobacco settlement case to the idea of prepaid health plans (later known as HMOs).
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January 6, 2003 - In an age when many patients complain about paying too much money for too little time with their doctors, a Central Minnesota physician is trying something different. Dr. Susan Rutten (RUTTON -- like Button) considers herself an old fashioned country doctor. Rutten makes house calls, and her patients pay her in cash. And even though she doesn't take insurance, she provides affordable healthcare by keeping her costs low.
February 17, 2003 - MPR’s Laura McCallum reports on bills that ratify contracts for state workers clearing legislative hurdles. The bills include pay and benefit provisions agreed to by state employee unions and the Ventura administration. But they're missing another provision -- health benefits for same-sex domestic partners. Gay and lesbian groups say removing the benefits is a slap in the face.
February 21, 2003 - An attorney for Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco, or MPAAT told a Ramsey County judge that the organization has radically changed how its board operates and has boosted funding to help individual smokers quit. The changes were in response to Attorney General Mike Hatch and the judge's criticisms that the anti-smoking organization was rife with conflicts of interest and spent too much money on attempts to sway anti-smoking actions in buildings and workplaces. Minnesota Public Radio's Elizabeth Stawicki reports: MPAAT attorney Lew Remele told Judge Michael Fetsch that the anti-smoking organization has evolved and has taken to heart the court and the Attorney General's criticisms. Remele said MPAAT now flatly prohibits grants to current board officers, their family members or affiliated organizations. He also said MPAAT will restructure its board so it's not comprised solely of healthcare and anti-tobacco representatives. Remele said MPAAT will help individual smokers by setting up sites in health care centers to offer assistance; meet with labor unions to set up MPAAT sites in workplaces; and work specifically with groups that were targeted by tobacco companies including people of color.
March 10, 2003 - Many employers are dealing with gaps in their staff caused by the deployment of military reserves in preparation for war. Healthcare providers are especially sensitive because of an already crippling nurse shortage. They were competing with the military before the deployments. The reserves offer impressive signing bonuses to attract more nurses from the civilian sector. Minnesota Public Radio's Rob Schmitz reports. {Hospitals in Minnesota are currently short around 3000 nurses. According to the Minnesota Nurses Association, this number will jump to almost 8000 by 2020. Minnesota Nurses Association Executive Director Erin Murphy says a war would just exacerbate the crisis.
May 5, 2003 -
May 8, 2003 - The board of directors of the HMO, Medica, is asking a Hennepin County District judge to release the company from the oversight of the court and Attorney General Mike Hatch. Hatch is challenging the request. He appointed several members of the current board in 2001 after a contentious battle that led to splitting off Medica from Allina Hospitals and Clinics. Hatch now says the board isn't doing its job. He wants them to appoint new board members and hire a CEO. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
June 3, 2003 - Research shows interesting, new correlations between exercise and health. Even obese people who exercise are healthier than thin people who don't. A leading researcher on obesity says you don't have to lose weight to be healthy you just have to walk. People who exercise - no matter what their weight - have half the death rate of those who just sit around. Cara Hetland has the next installment in our Mainstreet Radio series, "The Fight Against Fat." She reports, increasing your life span could be as simple as walking 30 minutes each day.
June 26, 2003 - South Dakota lawmakers head into a special legislative session today. There's only one item on the agenda - that's to create a health care risk pool for people who cannot get health insurance. About a thousand people in South Dakota are unable to get insurance. Their poor health is only part of the problem. More and more insurance companies are pulling out of South Dakota refusing to insure anyone. Mainstreet Radio's Cara Hetland has the story.
July 16, 2003 - Four undocumented immigrants may be denied kidney transplants by Hennepin County Medical Center because they don't have the money to pay for the operations. The state Human Services department estimates that over 21-hundred immigrants are losing General Assistance Medical Care because of stricter eligibility requirements regarding legal immigrant status. Dr. Steve Miles is a professor with the Center for Bioethics in the University of Minnesota's Department of Medicine. He says the fact the patients are illegal immigrants should have no bearing on their ability to receive healthcare.
July 28, 2003 - The Minnesota Health Department says health care costs increased 16 percent in 2002 for people enrolled in private health insurance plans. It's the largest increase since the Health Department started collecting the data in the mid-nineties. The report also says employee premiums increased 10 percent, the fourth straight year of double digit increases. Business leaders say the increases are causing them headaches and are encouraging the Legislature to make changes to the system. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...