MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - University of Minnesota researchers say the federal health overhaul has helped cut the number of uninsured people in the state by about 40 percent.

It's the first major assessment of the law's effect in Minnesota.

Researchers found the number of uninsured Minnesota's dropped by more than 180,000 people from Sept. 30 through May 1. They say their findings are consistent with early nationwide measurements of the law's effects.

The biggest driver in Minnesota's reduction was higher enrollment in the publicly run Medicaid and MinnesotaCare programs.

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