Health

December 22, 2017 8:57 AM

Robust health insurance sign-ups surprise supporters and opponents

Despite an enrollment period that was half as long, nearly 9 million people have signed up for Affordable Care Act insurance for 2018 so far, about the same as last year.

by Julie Rovner

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December 22, 2017 4:00 AM

Memorable stories of 2017

It's the time of year when we often look back at the major events and news that shaped 2017. This year we're also sharing some of the stories our reporters, producers and photographers have chosen as their most memorable, if not always the most momentous.

by MPR News Staff

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December 21, 2017 7:44 AM

A prescription to reduce waste in health care spending

A ProPublica series has illuminated the many ways the U.S. health care system leaks money. Here are some ideas for plugging the holes.

by Marshall Allen

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December 21, 2017 6:49 AM

Life expectancy drops again as opioid deaths surge in U.S.

The opioid epidemic caused U.S. life expectancy to fall for the second year in a row, marking the first time that's happened since the early 1960s. Death rates also continued to rise.

by Rob Stein

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December 21, 2017 6:39 AM

Fact check: Trump says 'Obamacare' is repealed. It isn't

President Trump has prematurely declared "Obamacare" dead and displayed a misunderstanding of where the money comes from to make the health law work.

by The Associated Press

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December 21, 2017 5:30 AM

Franken quits, Yanez jury acquits; Percy the cat splits? MN news 2017

The biggest Minnesota newsmakers in 2017 ranged from disgraced lawmakers to a radio host that lost his business deals with MPR to two cats that won over the internet.

by The Associated Press, MPR News Staff and Nancy Yang

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December 20, 2017 7:34 PM

Science says: Are poinsettias poisonous? Some holiday truths

Sure as sugarplums, myths and misconceptions pop up every holiday season. Here's what science says about some of them.

by The Associated Press

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December 20, 2017 9:48 AM

How racism may cause black mothers to suffer the death of their infants

African-American women are more likely to lose a baby in the first year of life than women of any other race. Scientists think that stress from racism makes their bodies and babies more vulnerable.

by Rhitu Chatterjee and Rebecca Davis

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December 19, 2017 6:39 PM

First gene therapy for inherited disease gets FDA approval

The Food and Drug Administration approved Luxturna, a genetically modified virus that restores by ferrying a healthy gene into the eyes of patients born with a genetic disease that impairs sight.

by Rob Stein

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December 19, 2017 2:11 PM

Minn. health chief resigns amid state elder abuse concerns

Dr. Ed Ehlinger will step down at the end of the day, Gov. Mark Dayton's office said. The move comes weeks after a Star Tribune series exposed stories of elder abuse in Minnesota nursing homes that for years was systematically ignored.

by MPR News Staff

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