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).
Please note: Most content related to this topic that is contemporary or created after 2005 can be found on our main content pages of MPR News, YourClassical MPR, The Current, APM Reports, and Marketplace.
September 10, 1993 - MPR’s Mike Mulcachy interviews a staff member of the University of Minnesota about the enactment of same sex benefits policy for school employees. The initial enrollment of spouse/partner program was eight people.
September 22, 1993 - Minnesota Heath Commissioner Mary Jo O'Brien shares recommendations on what to look for in President Clinton speech on federal health care.
October 15, 1993 - On this Midday, a discussion on the results from a Citizens Jury that has looked at President Clinton’s health care plan. Guests Bob Meek, president of the Jefferson Center; and Lenny Nelson, custodial engineer at Saint Paul Public Schools, detail the response from jury.
October 15, 1993 - Dr. Arthur Caplan, ethicist in bioethics, explains the push and pull of political, scientific, and monetary support in research of various diseases.
October 21, 1993 - U. S. Senator David Durenberger states there is bipartisan support for his national health plan, which includes broadening subsidies and access. He also details the difference between Clinton plan.
December 14, 1993 - Dave Durenberger and Paul Wellstone, Minnesota’s U.S. senators, debate at Minnesota Meeting. The topic of debate is health-care reform. Durenberger is an advocate of managed competition in health care, while Wellstone is an advocate of a single-payer system. Minnesota Meeting is a non-profit corporation which hosts a wide range of public speakers. It is managed by the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota.
March 28, 1994 - MPR’s Gary Eichten talks with U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger about health care reform push in Congress and on Whitewater controversary.
March 29, 1994 - Midday’s Gary Eichten interviews Doug Johnson, Minnesota state senator, about bill that would use state income tax to pay for universal health coverage. Johnson is the senator sponsor of the plan.
April 8, 1994 - U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks at Minnesota Nurses Association rally at the IDS crystal court in downtown Minneapolis for an address about health care reform. MPR’s Dan Olson reports from rally.
June 27, 1994 - U.S. Senator Dave Durenberger, member of the Senate Finance Committee, discusses the work at the U.S. Capitol to put together a health care reform bill.