Recent content from Christopher Snowbeck
U to expand study of whether common diabetes drug could treat COVID
Early research suggests metformin, an inexpensive drug used for diabetes and weight loss, can help women infected with the virus avoid serious illness.
Mayo Clinic posts $728 million in income despite pandemic
After an initial hit, demand for COVID test helps to drive strong results.
UnitedHealth Group opens 'pop-up' infusion center for COVID-19 patients
"Monoclonal antibodies" given in Minnetonka to help avoid hospitalization.
Minnesota's COVID cases are down, but for how long?
Despite the decline, there's considerable uncertainty about whether it can be sustained, particularly as more contagious versions spread.
Allina, Optum plan to build surgery center in Brooklyn Park
Joint venture that was formed in 2019 plans to open or acquire about a dozen surgery centers in five years.
Coronavirus variant spreading in Minnesota
Officials fear a second wave of more contagious virus strain could emerge.
Minnesota reports 884 new COVID-19 cases, 11 more deaths
The count for people with at least one vaccine dose now exceeds 742,000.
Minnesota hits 1 million mark with COVID-19 vaccine doses
The state postponed appointments at some community vaccination locations after severe winter weather in other parts of the country delayed at least part of this week's COVID-19 vaccine doses.
Google will open first office in Minnesota, and it's not in the Twin Cities
Rochester location fits with the tech giant's Mayo Clinic collaboration.
North Memorial Health Hospital nurse named to Biden COVID task force
Mary Turner, president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, will join group focused on health inequities.
New UnitedHealth CEO Witty could see $18.8 million in pay for 2021
After abrupt departure, former CEO will see salary and incentive pay for two years.
U studies antibodies for short-term immunity vs. COVID-19
Antibodies show promise in virus prevention efforts, not just treatment.
Minnesota reports 1,030 new COVID-19 cases, 17 more deaths
The count for people with at least one vaccine dose now exceeds 525,000.
For Minnesota nurse on front lines, COVID-19 fight is personal
A COVID death in the family brings home patients' suffering, with the pain of that loss deepening her commitment to her difficult work.
Minn. hospitals criticize state's COVID-19 vaccine allocations
Some providers have not received any vaccine for weeks, the trade group said, adding that the new state COVID-19 vaccine allocation system deprives some rural communities of doses needed for patients.
UnitedHealth makes sudden CEO change, elevating Witty
David Wichmann is stepping down as the Minnetonka insurer's chief executive. Andrew Witty, the head of its Optum subsidiary who worked with the World Health Organization last year, now leads the whole company.
Minnesota health insurance coverage held steady despite pandemic
Growth in government-based coverage offset declines in employer-based health insurance.
Coronavirus variant finding in Minnesota raising questions
Scientists are trying to learn more about the coronavirus strain linked to Brazil because health officials don't know for sure if it's spreading in Minnesota.
Minnesotans get erroneous vaccine e-mails, then apologies
The glitch wrongly told people waiting for their second doses that appointments are "no longer valid."
Minnesota reports 1,087 new COVID-19 cases, 19 more deaths
The count for people with at least one vaccine dose now exceeds 381,000.
Minnesota on guard against the coronavirus variants
Two weeks after the Department of Health reported the state's first cases, health officials are expanding the genetic sequencing work that scientists perform to document the new strain.
Minnesota reports 1,565 new COVID-19 cases, 31 more deaths
The count for people with at least one vaccine dose now exceeds 229,000.
UnitedHealth Group beats profit estimates despite COVID-19
Pandemic costs hit earnings from the company's health insurance division.
Minnesota reports 1,529 new COVID-19 cases, 37 more deaths
The count for people with at least one vaccine dose now exceeds 174,000.
Minnesota reports first cases of coronavirus variant
The new strain was detected in specimens from five residents in the Twin Cities metro area, the Minnesota Health Department says.
Slow uptake for promising new COVID-19 treatment in Minnesota
Some medical centers are reporting a surprising lack of patient interest in the outpatient antibody therapy, state health officials say.
Minnesota reports 2,489 new COVID-19 cases, 43 more deaths
State officials are watching for a potential increase in cases following holiday travels.
![Dr. Sophia Kim, an internist at North Memorial, drew a dose of the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine with a syringe Monday morning. ] AARON LAVINSKY](https://chorus.stimg.co/22219648/ows_358cf190_41ab_422c_ae82_b234196e2a86.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
HealthPartners studying COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women
Research will monitor recipients for impact on pregnancy, birth outcomes.
Minnesota is trending toward a grim holiday milestone with COVID-19 deaths
Less than two weeks old, December has already become the second-deadliest month for COVID-19 in Minnesota.
Minnesota reports 4,447 new COVID-19 cases, 67 more deaths
The latest numbers pushed the seven-day rolling average for new cases to the lowest reading since early November.
As case counts stabilize, COVID deaths in Minn. are surging
The state reported a record 399 fatalities last week, amid optimism over vaccine development and emerging treatments and concern about hospital capacity.
Minnesota reports 6,337 new COVID-19 cases, 75 more deaths
Since the virus started infecting Minnesotans in March, the state has reported 345,281 positive cases, 18,059 hospitalizations and 3,920 deaths. The "positivity rate" has been holding relatively steady in the past week, but remains higher than doctors want to see.
Study will let some get COVID antibody treatment at home
In partnership with the drug company Eli Lilly, Minnetonka-based UnitedHealth said Friday it would enroll in the study up to 500,000 people across 46 states, including Minnesota, with at least 5,000 patients expected to receive the monoclonal antibody treatment.
Virus surge pushing ambulance transfers 'through the roof'
State data show that ambulances during the week before Thanksgiving handled 780 calls — the highest since the start of the pandemic — where patients tested positive for COVID-19, reported symptoms or said they might have been exposed.
UnitedHealth executive returns after COVID-19 vaccine work
Andrew Witty's return after more than seven months working with the World Health Organization on development of coronavirus vaccines comes as UnitedHealth Group weighs impact of virus.
Minn. reports 9,040 new virus cases, 45 deaths over two days
With the latest figures, which cover two days, Minnesota has now seen 304,023 positive cases, 16,423 hospitalizations and 3,521 deaths since the pandemic arrive here in March.
Minnesota shatters daily record of COVID deaths with 101
With the latest numbers, Minnesota has now seen 3,476 deaths since the pandemic hit in March. "This is a sad development, but it is not a surprising development," Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said.
Mayo launches therapy to prevent COVID-19 hospitalizations
The clinic is the first in Minnesota to administer the antibody treatment.
Minnesota reports 6,265 new COVID-19 cases, 51 more deaths
Since the pandemic arrived in Minnesota in March, the state's pandemic tallies include 262,952 positive cases, 14,745 hospitalizations and 3,201 deaths. With the latest numbers, an average of about 13.5% of reported tests have been positive over the past week.
Minnesota hospitals worry despite operating profits
Q3 operating income didn't fully make up for losses earlier this year.
FEMA ambulances deployed to help transfer Minn. patients
The state is getting 25 staffed ambulances from the federal government to help hospitals transfer patients so medical centers are better prepared for a surge of critically ill patients.
State will get small supply of drug similar to Trump's treatment
Minnesota is beginning to receive limited supplies of a new COVID-19 therapy that could reduce the need for hospital stays and trips to the emergency…
Minnesota in 'desperate and dangerous place' with COVID-19
Health officials stressed the skyrocketing count wasn't due to a backlog or some other reporting anomaly, but rather, the rapid spread of a virus that will likely produce rising death counts and hospitalizations for weeks to come.
Minnesota reports record 8,703 new virus cases, 35 more deaths
The latest reading continues a recent trend of steady increases in the "positivity rate" for tests across the state — a worrisome sign, doctors say, for COVID-19 spread. Newly confirmed deaths included 27 in congregate care settings.
Citing COVID-19, nurses push to preserve ER in St. Paul
Fairview says the ER closure will have no impact on care for COVID-19 patients at St. Joseph's. Many pandemic patients aren't admitted through the emergency room, the health system says.
As cases surge in Minnesota, Midwest, hospitals scramble to keep up
Severe spike in COVID-19 cases, deaths has hospitals fearful of falling behind.
As Supreme Court takes up ACA challenge, MNsure pushes sign-ups
MNsure enrollment urged despite ACA arguments before the Supreme Court.
Minnesota reports 4,647 new COVID-19 cases, 34 more deaths
Newly confirmed deaths included 18 in congregate care settings.
Judge: UnitedHealth must redo 67K claims denied under 'overly restrictive guidelines'
Judge says insurer's initial coverage used guidelines "to protect its bottom line."
HealthPartners offering $40 million in pandemic credits
Bloomington-based carrier joins trend as insurers see fewer claims from patients.
A runaway October for infections in Minnesota
The number of positive cases reported Saturday topped the 3,000 mark for the second day in a row, reflecting a surge that's approaching what is now being seen in Wisconsin, Iowa and the Dakotas.
Minnesota reports 3,021 new virus cases, 20 more deaths
October's final COVID-19 data release continued Minnesota's recent trend of more virus deaths and escalating case counts.
Children's Minnesota eliminating 150 jobs in midst of COVID-19
State's largest pediatric medical center cites financial losses from pandemic, need for efficiency.
After dodging worst of COVID, rural Minn. 'lit up with cases'
Case counts are surging in rural communities like never before. Since the beginning of October, the 10 Minnesota counties with the fastest case growth are all in rural parts of the state.
COVID-19 case surge stoking worries in Minnesota
Doctors fear more deaths and serious illness as big case growth continues.
Minnesota reports 2,268 new virus cases, 14 more deaths
Newly confirmed deaths included nine in congregate care settings.
Minneapolis health insurance startup Bind Benefits raises $105 million
The startup is launching fully insured health plans in dozens of states in 2021.
Health officials: New Minn. virus milestone shows significant transmission
Record number of cases come on high volume of tests.
UnitedHealth Group boosts outlook as more seek health care
Third-quarter earnings beat expectations despite commercial enrollment decline.
Minnesota reports 10 more COVID-19 deaths, 1,537 new cases
More than 110,000 confirmed cases have been reported in Minnesota since the start of the pandemic.
U.S. family health insurance premiums surpass $21,000
Kaiser survey finds premiums rise 4%, with concerns about mental health, surprise bills.
Minnesota reports 14 more COVID-19 deaths, 918 new cases
The pandemic has now caused 106,651 confirmed cases in Minnesota.
Medicare shift could force changes for 10,000 in state
Humana says it's open to talking with both health systems, but M Health Fairview says seniors should consider changing insurers.
Mayo, U studying Trump's experimental treatment for COVID-19
Experimental therapy is the subject of ongoing research trials.
Minnesota reports 14 more deaths from COVID-19 and 1,434 new cases
The pandemic has now caused 102,787 confirmed cases in Minnesota.
Health insurance options expand on MNsure
Rates for individual policies are increasing by 1% to 4% on average.
UnitedHealthcare launches big Medicare expansion
The nation's largest insurer will sell health plans in 291 new counties, including seven in Minnesota.
Minnesota marks 2,000 deaths from COVID-19 pandemic
State health officials reported Saturday 10 more deaths from COVID-19 across the state, exactly 27 weeks after Minnesota's first death report came March 21.
Children's Minnesota considers 'significant' job cuts, service changes
No numbers yet, but some services could move from St. Paul to Minneapolis.
Bind expands health plan business to Florida, eyes other states
The Minneapolis-based startup company is now selling fully insured coverage.
U reviews video of weekend 'Superblock' gathering amid COVID-19 concerns
The gathering, attended by scores of students, took place outside dorms on the Minneapolis campus.
A new mother's COVID death shines light on ethnic disparities
Among all expectant mothers, Black and Hispanic women are contracting the coronavirus in numbers that far exceed their share of the population.
Coming of fall brings more COVID-19 concerns in Minnesota
The state could see a spike with schools, indoor activities — and the flu.
Minnesota reports 4 more deaths from COVID-19, more than 900 new cases
The pandemic has now caused 79,880 confirmed cases in Minnesota.
Health worker COVID infections underscore state mask needs
Infections are occurring in clinics and hospitals, but state health leaders believe the majority of doctors and nurses are infected while away from work.
