February 1, 2024
On January 25, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reported that in 2023 Minnesota witnessed the highest number of congenital syphilis cases in at least 40 years.
The MMA and MDH will host a virtual forum on “Rising Congenital Syphilis in Minnesota: A Special Briefing for Health Care Providers” tomorrow (February 2) from noon to 1 pm. Register here.
Twenty-nine cases of congenital syphilis (including three stillbirths) were reported in Minnesota in 2023. Congenital syphilis occurs when a pregnant person passes their syphilis infection on to their fetus during pregnancy, which can cause severe complications such as miscarriages, stillbirths, premature birth and brain/nerve problems (including blindness and deafness).
Due to the rising number of cases, MDH has updated screening guidelines for healthcare providers. The updated recommendations state that all pregnant people should be screened at least three times during pregnancy, including at the first prenatal encounter (ideally during the first trimester), around 28 weeks of pregnancy and at delivery.
Minnesotans of all races, ethnicity, gender and/or sexual orientations are increasingly impacted by syphilis. However, people who identify as American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), Black and Latin/Hispanic are disproportionally impacted by syphilis due to a combination of factors affecting the social determinants of health, including differences in health insurance coverage, employment status, and access to preventive, screening, and curative services.
MDH is working directly with healthcare providers to improve understanding of signs and symptoms, routine screening, treatment and prevention of congenital syphilis. Because some pregnant people may not access traditional prenatal care, MDH will work with additional partners to increase screening for syphilis through partnerships with emergency departments, urgent care centers, correctional facilities, harm reduction/treatment providers and primary care clinics.
Additional data and information about syphilis can be found on the MDH website: Syphilis.
October 9, 2025
The MMA is partnering with Hennepin Healthcare to offer an in-person session on “Supporting Patients, Families, and Professionals in the Aftermath of Crisis” on October 21 from 6 to 8 pm in Room RL110 at the HCMC Red Building, 730 South 8th Street, in Minneapolis.
October 9, 2025
The MMA, in partnership with the Wisconsin Medical Society, will lead a panel discussion titled "The Role of Medical and Professional Societies in Supporting Clinicians and Community Health" at the Transforming Community and Rural Healthcare 2025: Bold Innovation and Partnerships symposium, to be held on October 27-28, at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.
October 2, 2025
The federal government shutdown will affect the Minnesota healthcare system in several important ways.