Legislative Session Starts; MMA to Focus on 5 Major Issues
February 19, 2026
State lawmakers returned to St. Paul on February 17 for the second half of the 2025-2026 biennium.
HHS Secretary Deals Devastating Blow to Vaccine Development
August 7, 2025
On August 5, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., announced plans to severely hamper vaccine development programs.
It was reported that the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority will terminate 22 mRNA vaccine-development contracts.
Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, said the decision is one of the "worst decisions" he's seen. "mRNA technology could save us in the next pandemic," he said.
“The MMA continues to be disappointed, and concerned, with how the current administration is turning its back on science,” said MMA President Edwin Bogonko, MD, MBA. “mRNA vaccines saved thousands of Minnesotans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need more vaccine development, not less.”
Latest News
MMA Leaders Testify on Medicaid Cuts
February 19, 2026
On the second day of the legislative session, MMA leadership was already advocating for one of its top priorities - minimizing the harm of federal changes to Medical Assistance (MA).
MMA Priority Bill on AI and Prior Auth Already Moving at the Capitol
February 19, 2026
Legislation to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in prior authorization requirements was heard in the House Commerce Finance and Policy Committee on February 19.