Health

Health
Fear in Minnesota’s Somali community deepens, hampering progress on measles vaccination
Public health officials say a measles crisis has long been brewing in Minnesota. For years, the state’s large Somali community has been fertile ground for the myth that the measles vaccine causes autism. Data show autism rates in Somali 4-year-olds are high.
Minnesota parents look for ways to help kids cope and process ICE trauma and chaos
As the Trump administration's immigration crackdown continues across Minnesota, parents are increasingly worried about what their children, even preschoolers, might be seeing and hearing, and the harm the chaos and trauma may do to their mental and emotional well-being.
Anoka opens Minnesota’s first government-run cannabis dispensary, one of few of its kind in country
The city of Anoka held a soft opening for its new dispensary, Anoka Cannabis Company, on Thursday. It’s believed to be one of the only city-operated cannabis stores to open in the U.S. since a city in the state of Washington opened a dispensary back in 2015.
Children’s Minnesota to pause some pediatric gender health services
Gender-affirming care for transgender youth remains legal in Minnesota, but the hospital says it will pause prescribing puberty-suppressing medications and pubertal hormones to patients under the age of 18.
State adding staff to review nearly 6,000 Medicaid providers in Minnesota for potential fraud
Minnesota’s Department of Human Services is bringing on more than 160 additional staff to help inspect Medicaid providers for fraud, as they face a federal threat to withhold $2 billion in Medicaid funds over fraud allegations.
How ICE's presence is affecting health care in Minnesota
Fear of federal immigration operations is keeping some people from seeing doctors and getting care. MPR News guest host Catharine Richert talks about how providers are responding and what that means for public health. 
Tear gas causes health concerns for Twin Cities residents
Federal agents are regularly using chemical irritants like tear gas in attempts to disperse protesters and observers in the Twin Cities. Medical experts say there’s a lot of uncertainty about the health impacts of those chemicals.
Hennepin Healthcare cuts 100 positions and 5 medical programs
The system is also confronting a projected $100 million loss in uncompensated care and a $1.7 billion reduction in Medicaid revenue over the next 10 years. 
University of Minnesota, Fairview and M Physicians reach agreement for medical school
The agreement comes after the three parties entered mediation last month with the Minnesota Attorney General’s office following weeks of uncertainty regarding funding for the state’s largest medical school.