January 5, 2023
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Lead Poisoning Prevention Program has posted online its 2022 revision of the Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota.
The guidelines, which are endorsed by the MMA, were first released in March 2000. The new version was updated based on research and feedback from a multi-disciplinary workgroup consisting of healthcare and public health professionals, professional healthcare associations, and other relevant partners. Maria Starchook-Moore, MD, sat on the Childhood Blood Lead Screening Guidelines for Minnesota Revision Workgroup, as an MMA representative.
These screening guidelines now recommend universal blood lead testing of all children in Minnesota at 12 and 24 months of age, and targeted blood lead testing for children ages 25 months through 17 years. The screening guidelines include both a three-page summary and a longer reference manual.
Along with the MMA’s support, the guidelines are endorsed by the Minnesota Nurse Practitioners (MNNP), Minnesota Chapter of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (MN NAPNAP), Minnesota Poison Control System, Region 5 Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU), HealthPartners, UCare, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota (LPHA), Minnesota Environmental Health Association (MEHA), Sustainable Resources Center, Inc. (SRC), and East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC).
January 30, 2026
Nearly four dozen physician leaders, physicians-in-training and legislators urgently called on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow unimpeded access to care for all Minnesotans.
January 30, 2026
On January 26, the MMA submitted a formal comment in opposition to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule that would prohibit the use of federal Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) funds for select gender-affirming healthcare services provided to minors.
January 30, 2026
After lengthy negotiations, the University of Minnesota, Fairview Health Services, and University of Minnesota Physicians (UMP) finally reached a 10-year mediation agreement on January 26, the Minnesota attorney general’s office announced.