March 27, 2001 - The outbreak of two livestock diseases in Europe is heightening awareness in beef producers in the US. The US Department of Agriculture has introduced stringent efforts to keep both foot and mouth disease and madcow disease out of the country. But some epidemiologists and agriculture experts say despite the precautions it's possible that cases can occur in Minnesota. In the new global economy, health experts say a virus is only a plane ride away. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 22, 2001 - Minnesota's Health Department says the state's tuberculosis rate is rising even though the national rate is on the decline. 178 cases were diagnosed in 1999, the second largest number of cases in the past 20 years. The health department says a large number of the cases involve immigrants from countries don't have the ability to diagnose and treat the disease. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 20, 2001 - The Senate Health and Family Security Committee last night voted 6-to-3 in favor of a bill that would force drug manufacturers to offer Minnesotans the same discounts they offer HMO's, the state and other bulk purchasers. Consumer rights groups, seniors and advocates for low income Minnesotans say the bill would provide a great benefit for those who need discounts but others say the bill is unconstitutional. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 14, 2001 - A prayer service this morning (Wednesday) at the Cathedral of Saint Paul marked the beginning of extensive rehabililitation work on the structure. Workers will replace the Cathedral's 60-thousand square foot roof and refinish the buildings exterior. Church officials say the $35 million renovation will bring about some significant changes to the 85-year old structure. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 13, 2001 - Every year, Minnesota spends 850 million dollars caring for the state's elderly in nursing homes. As baby-boomers approach retirement, long-term care experts worry that unless changes occur those costs could skyrocket. A tri-partisan task-force studied the issue last summer and wants the state to meet consumer demand by creating a better system of home and community based care. But the transformation will not be cheap. The task-force, the governor and the industry all expect the state to spend over a 100 million dollars in the 2 year budget to start this system. In the second part in our three-part series on long-term care "A Question of Dignity" Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck examines the legislative proposals.
March 13, 2001 - The state's five largest HMO's say they will offer all the same standard treatments and prevention efforts for 50 common ailments like breast cancer and diabetes. The agreement marks the first time all of the major health plans in a state will endorse a set of guidelines to make patient care better and more cost effective. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
March 12, 2001 - A state task force has recommended that Minnesota shift its reliance on nursing homes toward less costly assisted living alternatives. Forty-thousand Minnesotans now live in nursing homes even though state officials say many could be living on their own with some assistance. This legislative session, Governor Ventura and the Legislature are working on ways to prepare the long-term care system for the state's retiring baby-boomers. Over the next three days, we'll examine Minnesota's long-term care system in our series "A Question of Dignity." Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports on the state's existing options...
February 27, 2001 - A bipartisan group of lawmakers wants to enact a "patient's bill of rights" during this year's session. The lawmakers say the measure would ensure HMO's are held accountable when a patient is denied care. Last year, a similar measure passed the DFL controlled senate but failed in the Republican house. Supporters say they are confident the legislation has a better chance of passage this year since voters made it an issue in the last political campaign. But opponents say consumers won't back the bill once they realize how much it could cost. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports..
February 22, 2001 - Governor Jesse Ventura has announced a plan that he hopes will provide more health care coverage to Minnesota's children. Ventura teamed up with the Minnesota Council of Health Plans and the Children's Defense Fund to announce an outreach program to insure more Minnesota children. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...
February 15, 2001 - The Minnesota Nurses Association, the state chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons and long-term care facilities want the legislature to limit how much temporary nurses agencies can charge nursing homes. The groups say the so-called "nursing pools" are taking unfair advantage of the state's worker shortage by charging exhorbitant rates for workers. Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports...