PEOPLE POWER: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Huge shoutout to our amazing #PeoplePower team and community partners. Together, we made a real difference last year, delivering over 10,000 wellness kits, tote bags, backpacks, and health essentials to those who need them most in our community.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3S6nnZ8 (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLL: Via Harvard, VERBATIM: “One hundred days into the new federal administration, a new poll reports that major segments of the U.S. public anticipate they will lose trust in public health recommendations with the changes in health agency leadership. The poll, conducted among a national sample of U.S. adults, found that 44% of the public says having the new leaders in charge of federal public health agencies will make them trust health recommendations coming from these organizations less than they used to (including 14% who say ‘a little less’ and 30% who say ‘a lot less’). A significantly smaller share (28%) say changes will make them trust recommendations more (including 18% who say ‘a little more’ and just 10% who say ‘a lot more’).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cXhTtB
MORE: Via Roll Call, VERBATIM: “Among the respondents who believe that the CDC will function worse, primary concerns were that politics will influence decision-making, the administration will scale back too much, or that public health threats like infectious diseases will be downplayed. Respondents also worried about the agency being influenced by big corporations, recommendations will be based on unproven science, and the dismissal of health equity issues.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EL48Bs
SCREENS: Via ACHI, VERBATIM: “The 2025 Life in Media Survey: A Baseline Study of Digital Media Use and Well-Being Among 11-to-13 Year-Olds is a collaboration between the University of South Florida and The Harris Poll . . . Of the children surveyed, 78% said they had their own smartphone, with the majority also having an associated data plan. Another 13% said they shared, sometimes used, or frequently used someone else’s smartphone.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ixwg8R
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
HIV: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Minnesota is entering a bittersweet phase in its fight against HIV: Improved treatments have helped people with the disease live so long that they are dying of other age-related causes. The state recorded 158 deaths in its HIV population last year, the highest number in at least a decade, but only 32 people died from the disease while the rest were from other causes, according to newly released data from the Minnesota Department of Health. And for the first time half of the state’s deaths in its HIV population involved people 60 and older.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lRf8xH
100 DAYS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “In 100 days, President Trump and his administration have not only upended the status quo for health care and challenged mainstream science, but slashed the workforce that's supposed to execute on their vision. Why it matters: Trump may have downplayed health care as a key issue during his campaign, but it quickly became a flashpoint after he appointed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the nation's top health official. The choice signaled an unconventional approach that's already challenged facts, redefined medical research and given the health secretary unprecedented power.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42AvQKo
CUTS: Via Minnesota Department of Human Services, VERBATIM: “At Clay County Family Service Center in Moorhead on Thursday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates continued a series of statewide roundtables educating Minnesotans on the impact of proposed federal cuts to vital health care programs. Changes proposed in the U.S. Congress to Medicaid and health care funding could result in $880 billion in cuts nationwide to health care programing currently benefiting 1.3 million Minnesotans. While specific proposals have yet to be unveiled, state estimates show that Minnesota could lose as much as $1.6 billion annually in federal support for health care programs serving a wide swath of Minnesotans, including children, those who are pregnant, seniors and people with disabilities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YP16ms
MORE: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “If all states tried to maintain Medicaid expansion coverage, KFF estimates that a cap on federal spending for enrollees covered through expansion would effectively lower the federal share from the current 90% to 69% by FY 2034 . . .
. . . shifting $246 billion in costs to states over the next 10 years—with state spending increases ranging from 4% in Massachusetts and South Dakota to 20% in Louisiana.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4lSpUnz
MEDICAID SUPPORTS HEALTH CARE FOR ALL OF US: Medicaid keeps Minnesota’s hospitals strong and ensures communities across the state have access to care. Policymakers must protect Medicaid so every Minnesotan — regardless of income or health status — can get the care they need, when they need it. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3FtrCuH (SPONSORED: Minnesota Hospital Association)
NEXT WEEK: Via Medical Alley, VERBATIM: “Join us on May 7 for a dynamic discussion on how AI is transforming healthcare operations and patient experience. Life Link III’s Kolby Kolbet and MentorMate’s Josh Marquart will share their real-world experience implementing AI solutions, including what worked, what they learned along the way, and how their approach continues to evolve.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/42X7sBC
JUNE 9-10: Via Minnesota Rural Health Conference, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Rural Health Conference — hosted by the Minnesota Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and Primary Care, the Minnesota Rural Health Association, and the National Rural Health Resource Center — annually seeks to support, connect and inspire rural health professionals and leaders from across the state as they work toward the goal of building healthy communities.” DETAILS: https://fluence-media.co/4j1inkl
From morning take…
PHARMA: via a Rep. Angie Craig press release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Representative Angie Craig recently introduced a bipartisan bill to eliminate tax breaks for pharmaceutical companies on prescription drug advertising. The bipartisan No Handouts for Drug Advertisements Act would eliminate the tax deduction companies can claim for pharmaceutical marketing and promotional expenses related to advertising. … The Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing estimates that prohibiting pharmaceutical advertising [tax breaks] could increase federal tax revenues by $1.5 to $1.7 billion annually from 10 of the largest pharmaceutical companies operating in the U.S.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iIt0rx
Sign up for morning take… https://fluence-media.co/TheDailyAgenda
HHS: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will close its civil rights office in June, according to an email sent to staff Monday and viewed by POLITICO. The office closure is part of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s mass reorganization of his department that has seen the agency downsized by roughly 20 percent.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jOvpli
GRANTS: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “Adelaide Tovar, a University of Michigan scientist who researches genes related to diabetes, used to feel like an impostor in a laboratory . . . Last fall, the National Institutes of Health awarded her a prestigious grant. It would fund her research and put her on track to be a university professor and eventually launch a laboratory of her own . . . Tovar is one of nearly 200 young scientists across the nation whose research and job prospects have been jeopardized by the sudden termination of the NIH’s MOSAIC grant program, one of many ended by sweeping cuts across the federal scientific agencies. The grant was created by the first Trump administration to foster a new generation of diverse scientists in biomedical research, then defunded in the second Trump administration’s ongoing purge of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Gvdz8G
MAHA: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a little less than a month left to produce a key document that will shape the federal government’s approach to childhood chronic disease. And while administration officials say he is on track to meet that deadline, it’s not clear how the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ commission is conducting its work. On May 24, the group of federal agency leaders and MAHA allies will deliver its ‘initial assessment’ to President Trump, according to an executive order Trump signed in February, after Kennedy’s swearing in.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3GIpi3A
ALZHEIMER’S: Via USA Today, VERBATIM: “A new report suggests up to 7.2 million Americans ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, an increase of about 300,000 cases of the mind-robbing disease from a year ago. The Alzheimer's Association's annual facts and figures report, released on April 29, said the total annual cost of caring for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia will reach $384 billion in 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Y77P5
RARE: Via Eagan-based TeleRare, VERBATIM: “TeleRare Health announced it is offering Virtual Genomic Consults across Minnesota, for adult and pediatric patients facing difficulties navigating the diagnosis of their rare or genetics-based condition. In the United States, a disease is considered rare if it affects fewer than 200,000 Americans. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 10,000 rare diseases afflict over 30 million Americans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42WY8O8
ESSENTIA HEALTH INVESTS IN TWIN PORTS NURSES: Total payroll for Essentia Health Duluth-Superior nurses is $164 million, with $53 million paid in salary increases over the past 3 years. Essentia Health has also increased clinical support staff by 10% over the past 3 years, providing additional support for those nurses. Over half of Duluth area nurses have been with us for over 5 years and enjoy exceptional work-life balance. To join our team at Essentia Health, search for openings HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3FzLe0i (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
STUDY: Via Health, VERBATIM: “Do you find yourself scrolling endlessly on social media while in bed? You’re not alone. About half of Americans watch TV and 45% scroll on their smartphone when struggling to fall asleep at night, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. But a new study found this habit could be linked to some pretty serious consequences for sleep and overall health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iE4UOm
VACCINE: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “A clinical trial run by the National Cancer Institute seems to confirm that a single dose of the vaccine used to prevent infection with the human papilloma virus is just as effective as two — and, therefore, also helps to prevent cancer. The result could transform efforts to reach the three-quarters of children globally who should receive the vaccines but don’t.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EJxFeK
PROCESSED FOOD: From Elsevier via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “A study analyzing data from nationally representative dietary surveys and mortality data from eight countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, United Kingdom, and United States) shows that premature deaths attributable to consumption of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) increase significantly according to their share in individuals' total energy intake.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jrkAWw
FRESH15: The latest season of Fresh15 includes interviews with new Minnesota House members. So far, five new members have shared their goals, background and fun facts before they take office in a historic session this January.
Rep. Kari Rehrauer
Rep. Wayne Johnson
Rep. Julie Greene
Rep. Keith Allen
Rep. Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
WEIGHT LOSS: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “The explosion of compounded GLP-1 offerings over the past two years is coming to an end, and many patients are left with no good options. Blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs — such as Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro — are no longer deemed by regulators to be in shortage, so compounding pharmacies and the telehealth companies they work with must stop offering copies of the treatments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lYFz4W
NEXTGEN: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “As a transplant surgeon, Timucin Taner, M.D., Ph.D., is a world-renowned physician and researcher. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, performed pioneering surgeries and received numerous awards and honors. As an educator, Dr. Taner is training the next generation of transplant surgeons — just as he was trained when he began his residency in general surgery at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education (MCSGME) 15 years ago.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jw4r22
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
ALGORITHM: From Edith Cowan University via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “An automated machine learning program developed by researchers from Edith Cowan University (ECU) in conjunction with the University of Manitoba has been able to identify potential cardiovascular incidents or fall and fracture risks based on bone density scans taken during routine clinical testing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42B04Np
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