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Second federal judge orders temporary reinstatement of thousands of probationary employees fired by the Trump administration; U.S., Canada political tension could affect Maine summer tourism; Report: Incarceration rates rise in MS, U.S. despite efforts at reform; MI study: HBCU students show better mental health, despite challenges.

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Trump administration faces legal battles on birthright citizenship; the arrest of a Palestinian activist sparks protests over free speech. Conservationists voice concerns about federal job cuts impacting public lands, and Ohio invests in child wellness initiatives.

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Farmers worry promised federal reimbursements aren't coming while fears mount that the Trump administration's efforts to raise cash means the sale of public lands, and rural America's shortage of doctors has many physicians skipping retirement.

Most of Minnesota's Kids Have Health Insurance

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Thursday, October 27, 2016   

MINNEAPOLIS – It's a historic milestone, according to a report released today by Georgetown University Center for Children and Families.

The report shows 95 percent of children in the U.S. had health care coverage in 2015, following the largest two-year decline of the uninsured rate on record.

In Minnesota, the uninsured rate for children dropped by 45 percent between 2013 and 2015.

Joan Alker, executive director of the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families, says Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Affordable Care Act have all been working well together.

"The data set that we use just goes back to 2008, but there are other Census Bureau statistics that go back 30, 40 years,” she states. “So I think we can feel confident that we do have the highest level of health insurance coverage for kids ever."

The report also found that Minnesota is doing better than the national average, with 97 percent of children in the state having health care coverage in 2015.

Alker notes that the drop in the number of uninsured children was widespread across income, racial and geographic lines.

She says many Americans are not aware of tremendous progress being made.

"We just did a poll and about half of Americans thought the number of uninsured children was actually increasing,” she explains. “Only 28 percent were aware that the number has actually gone down.

“So this is a success that we've had as a country, it's not well known and it's something we can all feel good about."

The report shows there are still an estimated 39,000 uninsured Minnesota children.





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