January 13, 2022
MMA member Kim Tjaden, MD, and other representatives from CentraCare met with several central Minnesota mayors and policymakers last week to urge them to enforce a six-week mask mandate to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“Masking and avoiding public gatherings is the only thing that’s going to help with this particular surge,” Tjaden was quoted as saying by the St. Cloud Times.
Officials representing St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park did not approve of a local mask mandate like the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul did on Jan. 6. Instead, they decided to send a message to residents encouraging them to wear masks indoors, get vaccinated, wash their hands and stay home if they’re sick.
Edina also recently decided against passing mask mandates; Duluth, Golden Valley and Hopkins approved mask mandates this week.
April 9, 2026
An amended piece of legislation that would exempt buprenorphine from prior authorization (PA) was heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee on April 9.
April 9, 2026
On April 9, the Senate Health and Human Services Committee heard a bill that would require coverage for psychiatric Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) services under Medical Assistance.
April 9, 2026
On April 9, the House Taxes Committee heard legislation focused on supporting the financial stability and ongoing operations of Hennepin Healthcare.