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POLLING
HEALTHCARE: Via Searchlight Institute, VERBATIM: “The Searchlight Institute recently partnered with the progressive new media organization Zeteo to field a joint survey regarding the level of government involvement voters would prefer in the American health care system . . . We find that majorities of voters support the government covering many additional forms of health care. At the same time, majorities of voters also hold mixed or lukewarm attitudes about the very progressive proposals that would empower the federal government to administer national public health insurance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/44pLE2G
MORE: Via Zeteo, VERBATIM: “Our joint survey, conducted by Tavern Research, found single-payer proposals received either majority or plurality support, depending on how they were worded. The poll found strong support for the idea of having the government cover a variety of healthcare costs. It also found widespread skepticism about the government’s ability to run a national healthcare program, even though many Americans already get health insurance through the government.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3T4L0oM
988: Via WILX-TV, VERBATIM: “Four years after the nationwide launch of the 988 Mental Health Crisis Lifeline, a new University of Michigan poll finds that many middle-aged and older adults remain unaware of the free service. Among adults aged 50 and older, 31% said they have never heard of any mental health crisis line. Since its launch, Americans have dialed or texted 988 a total of 26 million times.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4bnTGwK
MORE: Via University of Michigan, from the poll:
SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3RBb9ev
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
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)
HEALTH HEADLINES
NEXT WEEK: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “At 12:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 21, three experts will join Health Wonk Shop series moderator Larry Levitt in an hour-long discussion of health care affordability. During the discussion, panelists will consider affordability from a variety of perspectives, including how to define affordability and the question of affordability for whom, how to measure it, and what can be done to address affordability and the underlying cost of health care.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3TzTLat
CYCLOSPORA: Via U.S. News & World Report, VERBATIM: “The federal government may be in the process of learning that it’s hard to control what you choose not to observe. In this case it’s cyclospora, a parasite that can infect humans and cause what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refers to as ‘explosive bowel movements.’ The CDC says it knows of 843 cases of cyclosporiasis across 31 states. But a look at data collected by state shows that’s a significant undercount.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wNKQkl
MORE: The Minnesota Department of Health has not reported any cases here related to the current outbreak. However, we do get them. DATA: https://fluence-media.co/4bCmMZh
POSSIBLE SOURCE: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “In a news release issued Monday, health officials in Michigan identified a possible source of an outbreak of cyclosporiasis, an illness resulting from infection with the parasite cyclospora, which is transmitted through food and water contaminated with feces. ‘Current results point to lettuce or salad greens as a potential source for this outbreak,’ officials said via the release, though they cautioned that the source was not yet definitive, and that other food items could not be ruled out. They also did not specify a grower or supplier.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aQJZGZ
BLOOD: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The American Red Cross is declaring an emergency blood shortage as the blood supply fell nearly 25% in June. American Red Cross officials say blood donors are urgently needed to give now to help ensure patients receive lifesaving medical care without delay. The shortage is especially serious for platelets and types O positive and B negative blood.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gDEkI6
MORE: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “As an additional incentive to give blood, the Red Cross is rewarding people who donate blood July 13-31 with a Fandango Movie Ticket.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4w45oVy
TRANS CARE: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration is abandoning its most aggressive attempt to end gender-affirming care for youth nationally, according to an official document obtained by NPR. The document shows that the Department of Health and Human Services will not be finalizing a proposed rule that would have blocked all Medicaid and Medicare funding for hospitals that provide pediatric gender-affirming care.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3Rhmb8t
FRAUD: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “The federal watchdog for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) generated $5.56 billion in expected recoveries and projected savings over a six-month period, according to a report issued Monday, and it barred just more than 1,200 individuals and companies from federal programs. The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG), in a semiannual report to Congress, said it returned $12.70 for every dollar it spent between October 2025 through March 2026.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4feztuj
TYLENOL: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “A U.S. appeals court on Monday reversed a trial judge’s decision to dismiss lawsuits against the makers of Tylenol, reviving hundreds of cases filed by families who claim that their children developed autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder after their mothers took Tylenol during pregnancy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ffhm7Q
VIRGINIA: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “A free medical clinic in Virginia opens its doors every Thursday evening, offering care to anyone in the community regardless of their ability to pay. Project Care Free Clinic, which has operated since 2011, is staffed by about a dozen volunteers, including Essentia Health providers, like Dr. Lisa Seeber.” SEEBER: “This is why I went into medicine, and there’s no other reason to be here providing medical care for people unless you’re gonna do it for the people who really need it.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4wIEUJo
ABUSE PREVENTION: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has released new tools for parents and caregivers aimed at preventing and identifying abuse in infants age 6 months and younger. The Minnesota Legislature passed Statute 144.124 in 2025, which directed MDH to make resources available to educate parents and caregivers on the signs of physical abuse in infants and how to report it.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vtjw9K
ESSENTIA HEALTH SUPPORTS FREE CLINIC IN VIRGINIA, SERVING INCREASED NUMBER OF UNINSURED MINNESOTANS: Every Thursday night, physicians and care team members from Essentia Health-Virginia volunteer at the Project Care Free Clinic, providing treatment, screenings, and preventive care to patients who are uninsured or may be struggling to afford health care premiums. Essentia also provides lab and X-ray services at no cost to the clinic or its patients. Essentia is proud to support the clinic, ensuring everyone in the community can get the care they need. READ MORE: By volunteering at a free clinic, Essentia providers in Virginia ensure access to care for all | Essentia Health (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
INNOVATION & RESEARCH
STUDY: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Researchers at Mayo Clinic, in collaboration with the Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation, have developed a real-time monitoring system designed to give transplant teams a more complete picture of a donor liver’s health during machine perfusion. Published in Nature Communications, the study represents an important step toward more accurate evaluation of donor livers, laying the groundwork for future advances in organ preservation and transplantation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wO2OTT
OPIOIDS: Via Minnesota News Connection, VERBATIM: “Minnesota and other states are trying to sustain recent progress in reducing opioid overdose deaths, even as response leaders say front line teams are being asked to do a lot with limited resources. In Minnesota, opioid overdose deaths have fallen sharply from recent pandemic-era spikes, mirroring national data but rates remain higher than they were before COVID-19. Dr. Karen Scott, president of the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts, said partners are still trying to address teens’ access to counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. The foundation’s recent grant awards emphasize organizations affected populations often turn to first.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pl5568
INNOVATION: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Innovation is often viewed as the domain of entrepreneurs, engineers and technology companies. Mayo Clinic is challenging that notion by teaching innovation as a practical skill that healthcare professionals can learn, apply and use to improve patient care. Through its growing Biodesign educational initiatives, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science is training clinicians, trainees and students to identify unmet needs in healthcare and develop solutions using a structured, evidence-based methodology.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ymmHD0
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
GLP-1: Via UC-San Diego, VERBATIM: “Researchers found that semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, slowed biological aging markers in adults with HIV, marking the first clinical evidence that the drug may influence human aging. Although the findings are encouraging, scientists say larger studies are needed before concluding that the medication can help people age more slowly.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3R6VO5f
EXERCISE: Via University of Bristol, VERBATIM: “Regular exercise may benefit the heart in a way scientists are only beginning to understand. Beyond improving cardiovascular fitness, new research suggests that moderate aerobic exercise reshapes the nerves that regulate the heart. The findings could eventually help doctors develop more precise treatments for common heart conditions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4525PUr
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