Health

Health
At flu shot deadline, hundreds of Essentia Health employees could lose jobs
Duluth-based Essentia Health changed its policy recently to require employees to get the vaccine. Essentia says the change is needed to protect patients, but many experts say the evidence isn't strong enough to make the shots mandatory.
Consumers are getting the word that taxpayer-subsidized health plans are widely available for next year for no monthly premium or little cost, and marketing companies say they're starting to see an impact on sign-ups.
Odds are they're taking your blood pressure all wrong
New guidelines have lowered the threshold for high blood pressure to 130/80, which makes it even more important to get an accurate reading. Here's how to increase the odds of getting it right.
White House open to striking health provision from tax bill
The White House says it's willing to strike a health-care provision from Senate legislation to cut taxes and overhaul the tax code if the provision becomes an impediment to passing one of President Trump's top legislative priorities.
Most Minnesotans think that mental health care is on the right track in the state, but how about mental health care in the criminal justice system?
Ground Level: Minnesotans love their health care, but not all is well
Minnesotans feel mostly positive about the state's health care system, but that confidence ebbs when the questions turn to mental health. That's a key finding from Ground Level, an MPR News project using public opinion surveys to guide reporting.
Half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure in new guidelines
High pressure, which for decades has been a top reading of at least 140 or a bottom one of 90, drops to 130 over 80 in advice announced Monday by a dozen medical groups. The change means an additional 14 percent of U.S. adults have the problem.