35 UNDER 35: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Congratulations to Kailee Koenen, Pharmacy Quality Manager at UCare for being recognized by the @unitedwaycassclay 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/4c9v6iy (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
AI: Via YouGov, VERBATIM: “A recent YouGov Surveys: Serviced poll asked 1,181 adults with health insurance how much they trust AI to handle a range of insurance-related processes. The results suggest that trust in AI isn’t particularly strong, especially when it comes to the parts of the process that matter most . . . just 30% of insured Americans said they trust AI to evaluate and approve claims. Nearly twice as many (55%) said they distrust it. The picture isn’t much better for claim submission, where 35% said they trust AI and 50% said they don’t.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iI3Iuo
MENTAL HEALTH: Via St. Louis Park-based VITAL WorkLife, VERBATIM: “A new survey commissioned by VITAL WorkLife, the leading expert in mental health and well-being for healthcare organizations, reveals a stark disconnect between healthcare leadership and clinicians regarding mental health needs, highlighting urgent gaps in perception, prioritization, and solutions. While many healthcare leaders and clinicians recognize that burnout and stress have worsened in recent years, 79% of clinicians believe their employer has not provided sufficient mental health resources—compared to more than 95% of healthcare leadership who feel otherwise—believing that they have addressed healthcare worker burnout with sufficient programs and attention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kXbBxH
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
SALES TAX: Senate Taxes Committee Chair Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope) says she wants to wait until the 2026 legislative session to repurpose the Hennepin County sales tax that’s currently raising funds to retire the bonds to build Target Field. REST: “In 2024, no agreement was reached and I assured Hennepin County, that a proposal spearheaded by the County that was also supported by the Minnesota Twins Organization and North Memorial Hospital in Robbinsdale could win support in 2025. They have worked hard and the County committed itself, in its legislative agenda, to do just that. But, after months of conversations, with no agreement reached, it is now time for a pause until 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iHe7qc
U OF M: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Nearly 1,000 doctors in training at the University of Minnesota have filed to unionize. Amid an ongoing physician shortage, local residents and fellows argue they are facing unsustainable working conditions. Second-year infectious disease fellow Thomas Schmidt says in some circumstances residents are working up to 80 hours a week on pay as little as $16 per hour.” QUOTE: "A lot of us as trainees, we do stay there longer hours at times, and maybe we're putting off bedtime with our kids to be there for these patients, and not seeing my spouse," says Schmidt. "All these other things that are keys to our identity as people, not just being a physician." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4iM7Bi2
MORE: Via Minnesota Reformer, VERBATIM: “The move comes on the heels of more than 200 resident physicians at Hennepin Healthcare becoming the first to file to unionize in Minnesota earlier this month as part of a surge in organizing among young doctors in their final years of training.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c3TO3I
ATHLETES: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “The families of hockey player Jack Jablonski and football player Ethan Glynn lived through traumatic injuries to the two student-athletes 11 years apart. However, they are now linked in their fight for more insurance coverage for ‘catastrophic’ injuries from the Minnesota State High School League . . . The MSHSL has since increased catastrophic injury coverage to $3 million dollars, but the Senate bill proposes mandating the coverage be increased to $10 million.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bZEaq5
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)
GRANTS: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “A surge of grant cancellations hit researchers focused on the health of gay, lesbian and transgender people last week, as the Trump administration continues to target what it describes as ideologically driven science. Last week the U.S. government terminated at least 68 grants to 46 institutions totaling nearly $40 million when awarded, according to a government website. Some of the grant money has already been spent, but at least $1.36 million in future support was yanked as a result of the cuts, a significant undercount because estimates were available for less than a third of grants.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iIp5Ma
MORE: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Adrianne Jackson, 39, regularly gets tested for HIV after witnessing a family member contract the virus . . . Thanks to an HIV prevention clinic put on by the Aliveness Project and the Indigenous Peoples Task Force at the American Indian Center on Thursday, Jackson was able to get her test for free. But free clinics like these are in jeopardy after the Trump administration has threatened to cut $700 million in funding for HIV prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The move would affect hundreds of clinics and organizations nationwide.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4izZvJ7
ROUNDTABLE: Via Minnesota DHS, VERBATIM: “At Children’s Minnesota Hospital in St. Paul on Saturday, state officials, doctors, patients and advocates kicked off 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 to health care programing 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/4iylWhV
MINNEAPOLIS: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “Minneapolis Health Department officials say homelessness and substance abuse remain focuses for the city this year as they face uncertainty from President Donald Trump’s revamping of federal agencies. The department was re-accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board this month, which means it meets national standards for public health work. Minneapolis Public Health Commissioner Damón Chaplin and senior public health specialist Margaret Schuster say the re-accreditation will help the department remain a trusted voice for Minneapolis residents amid the current political climate.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/424mCVd
From morning take…
MEDICAID: via an MN DFL press release, VERBATIM: “DFL legislators introduced legislation that would raise taxes on millionaires at the level necessary to offset any cuts to [Medicaid]. … A report from Congress’s Joint Economic Committee found that if Republicans in Congress pass their proposed budget and cut Medicaid, Minnesota could see 89,000 rural residents lose their health coverage, 130,000 children lose their health insurance, more than 1 in 6 seniors lose their nursing home care and, in total, nearly 400,000 people cut off from their health insurance. … If these callous cuts go through without additional revenue raised by Minnesota, it will have a direct and immediate negative effect.” BILL: https://fluence-media.co/4iDECNg
MED POT: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “There are 51,000 people registered in Minnesota’s medical marijuana program, and there’s growing concern that new rules for obtaining a license to grow and sell both recreational and medicinal marijuana could jeopardize the medicinal program. … [Consultants] said they are working with state lawmakers to adjust the rules and keep the medicinal marijuana program viable.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4iEBhgW
Sign up for morning take… https://fluence-media.co/3ClMOla
CDC: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “After the chaotic withdrawal of President Trump’s previous nominee to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the president selected the CDC’s acting director, Susan Monarez, to lead the agency. Monarez is a longtime biosecurity expert with ties to former President Biden’s flagship health initiative, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health. The CDC is in the crosshairs of federal budget cuts, frustration over the Covid-19 response, and a Make America Healthy Again movement that has homed in on the agency’s vaccine and food guidance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iIEOuC
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)
NEXTGEN: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A new partnership between Hennepin Technical College and North Memorial Health is connecting students with hands-on work opportunities. HTC Works is a workforce development program that gives students an opportunity to learn as a paid apprentice. ‘The idea is that they’ll get a sustainable wage, but not only that sustainable wage, but also full sets of benefits so that, the idea is they’ll be fully supported throughout their college and their academic training opportunities,’ said Jason Jones, program coordinator at Hennepin Tech.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4c1HFfL
MAYO: Via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic's Executive Health Program in Rochester is moving up in the world with an $18 million move ‘to elevate the offerings and amenities’ for its corporate clients and ‘ultra-high net worth patients.’ Mayo Clinic filed plans on March 18 to relocate the growing program that treats executives as well as donors to Mayo Clinic. The program will move from the fifth floor of the Mayo Building to the 19th floor of the Gonda Building.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c3qiv1
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)
ALLERGIES: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Allergy season will soon be in full swing. But new research suggests many Minnesotans may already have runny noses and itchy, watery eyes — days or even weeks earlier than trees would typically release their pollen. Climate Matters, a New Jersey-based environmental nonprofit, analyzed decades of federal weather data across nearly 200 U.S. cities, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth, Rochester and Mankato. The results, released earlier this month, show that in parts of Minnesota, the annual allergy season now lasts nearly a month longer on average than it did in the 1970s.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4l8YOZ5
LONG COVID: Via POLITICO, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration is shuttering HHS’ long Covid office as part of its reorganization, according to an internal email seen by POLITICO. The email was sent Monday by Ian Simon, the head of the Office of Long Covid Research and Practice. It said the closing is part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ reorganization.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c3yjA5
CANCER: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Colorectal cancer is no longer a disease of older people. People in their 50s, 40s and younger are increasingly being diagnosed with cancers of the colon and rectum. Incidence rates increased by about 2% per year in people younger than 50 during the past decade, according to the American Cancer Society. In 2019, 20% of colorectal cancers were in people ages 54 years or younger, up from 11% in 1995. Another trend: Rectal cancer is more common than colon cancer in younger people. Of the estimated 46,050 new cases of rectal cancer in 2023, 37% will be in people younger than 50 versus 24% in people 65 or older. Because of these trends, experts now recommend screening for colorectal cancer at age 45.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/423pOAw
CHILDREN’S MN: From Children’s Minnesota via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Children’s Minnesota is excited to announce the 33rd annual Star Gala raised $2.14 million to benefit the nonprofit pediatric health system’s child and family services program. Star Gala is regarded as one of the biggest nights of the year for the Twin Cities philanthropic community. This year’s event supported The Kid Experts at Children’s Minnesota who provide a variety of services and wrap around care for a patient and their whole family, from music and pet therapy programs to financial counseling and interpreter services.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iIG0OF
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
IVF: From University of Illinois via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “The success of in vitro fertilization depends on many factors, one of which is sperm viability. A recent study from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign documents a new way to select viable sperm and prolong their viability in the laboratory, reducing one source of variability during the process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hR0sLX
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