EXCERPT: “(Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Ed) Ehlinger spoke with members of the Southwest Health and Human Services board on Wednesday morning, before meeting with a group of community members in the park. Ehlinger said Minnesota is the fourth healthiest state in the nation, and it has had some positive traits — like a willingness to invest in the public good — that helped make it that way. However, Minnesota is facing challenges when it comes to making long-term investments for public health, he said. Underinvestment in primary care ‘really impacts rural communities,’ Ehlinger said. At the same time, he said, ‘Minnesota is an increasingly diverse state, and we have some disparities with that.’ Ehlinger said the Minnesota Department of Health is focusing on closing gaps in health equity in a few main ways. One way to improve health for all is to expand our understanding of what creates health. Another is to pursue policies in different areas outside of health care, that still support good health for people. Strengthening local communities’ ability to make healthy choices also supports health equity, he said.” FULL STORY: http://bit.ly/2wTuWri