Health

Health
Allina to consolidate labor and delivery in southern Minnesota; Faribault Birth Center to close
Allina Health, which owns and runs the hospital, says it will consolidate labor and delivery services for Southern Minnesota in Owatonna, while it will close its birth center at its Faribault hospital.
A greener way to go? More people are rethinking what happens to their body after death
As people look for environmentally friendly ways to live, some are asking if death can be sustainable, too. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about the growing interest in natural burials, water-based cremation and other green funeral practices. 
What's going on with health insurance in Minnesota?
Health insurance premiums are rising and government health programs are changing. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks with experts about what’s driving up costs, policy changes and what to know during open enrollment.  
Iowa doesn't have enough OB-GYNs. Is the state's abortion ban part of the problem?
Iowa ranks last among states for the number of OB-GYNs per capita. State legislators are trying to recruit more, but some doctors say the state's strict abortion ban is partially to blame.
How an enduring debate over health care sparked a now record-long shutdown
At the heart of the impasse is a debate about expiring subsidies for health insurance. It's the latest chapter in a fight over Obamacare that has dominated Congress since the law was signed in 2010.
Minnesota SNAP recipients worry about hunger while political battle casts doubt on November benefits
SNAP recipients are expected to receive partial benefits this month after federal judges ruled that the government must continue providing food assistance during the shutdown.
700,000 Minnesotans live in counties without hospital-based obstetrics services, new data finds
Newly released data shows that Minnesota is continuing to lose hospital-based labor and delivery services, increasing the health risks facing people who are pregnant. 
Worsening listeria outbreak tied to pasta products kills 6, hospitalizes 25
Certain prepared pasta dishes were recalled from retailers like Trader Joe's, Kroger and Walmart between June and October. Health officials urge customers to dispose of them and clean their fridges.