Minnesota health care spending at $37.7B in 2010

Health spending in Minnesota rose last year at the slowest rate since 1997, as the recession's lingering effects reduced the number of people with private health insurance and patients put off discretionary medical care. Overall spending rose 2.2 percent in 2011, reaching $37.7 billion, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Health spending consumed a smaller share of the economy in Minnesota than nationally – 13.9 percent versus 16.8 percent – the department noted.