PEOPLE POWER: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “Our #PeoplePower team spent an afternoon volunteering for @bridgingmn sorting through donations and stocking the client shopping shelves with furniture and housewares serving families transitioning to housing stability.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3FKNe6b (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
PARENTHOOD: From St. Paul-based Securian via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Securian Financial, an employee benefits provider, surveyed nearly 1,500 prime child-bearing generation Americans working full-time for large employers. According to their study, a whopping 84% of Generation Z (adults currently ages 18-27) and 71% of Millennials (ages 28-43) surveyed say current economic conditions—including inflation, the cost of living and job security—are influencing their decisions to have children or expand their family.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4c53UBf
DOCS: Via Healthcare Dive, VERBATIM: “Athenahealth, an electronic health record vendor that sells patient engagement tools and healthcare AI products, and the Harris Poll surveyed more than a thousand primary care and specialist physicians nationwide in January to understand physician attitudes about the state of their profession and the adoption of emergent technologies. The team reported a decrease in physician burnout rates and intentions to quit in 2025 relative to 2024 — a welcome finding after multiple years of high physician turnover following the COVID-19 pandemic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hRCQqz
LOCKDOWNS: Via Politics Home, results of a poll conducted in the UK. VERBATIM: “Responding to a Savanta poll of 2,205 people last weekend, 38 per cent of respondents said they would be more likely to comply with full lockdown measures now in response to a new pandemic, compared to in 2020. 36 per cent said they would comply to the same level as they did five years ago, while only 22 per cent said they would be less likely to comply.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4400DBf
CLIMATE: Via University of Michigan, VERBATIM: “74% of people age 50 and older experienced at least one extreme weather event in the past two years; this includes extreme heat, poor air quality due to wildfires, severe storms, and long power outages. The majority of older adults said they are concerned about the impact of climate change on their own health (59%) and on the health of future generations (74%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43tDLKd
WEIGHT LOSS: Via MedPage Today, VERBATIM: “In a national poll of older adults, interest in using weight management medications was high, and most thought Medicare should cover these drugs. Among 2,657 National Poll on Healthy Aging respondents ages 50 to 80 years, 35.1% of all respondents expressed interest in using weight management medications, including 59.1% of those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater, found Lauren Oshman, MD, MPH, of the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor, and colleagues.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XAkQtt
POLL: From Alkermes PLC via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “People living with schizophrenia or bipolar I disorder (BDI) often face long and complex diagnostic and treatment journeys. Results from a newly completed survey designed to better understand the perspectives of healthcare providers on patients' treatment experiences and outcomes indicated that providers often prioritize approaches that support long-term symptom control, treatment consistency and quality of life considerations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43Zoe4Y
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
LAYOFFS: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration announced on Thursday that it was laying off 10,000 employees at the Health and Human Services Department as part of a broad reorganization that reflects the priorities of the health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and the White House’s drive to shrink the government. The layoffs are a drastic reduction in personnel for the health department, which had employed about 82,000 people and touches the lives of every American through its oversight of medical care, food and drugs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DLlm1c
UNITEDHEALTH: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “UnitedHealth Group has removed most mentions of its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies from its website, TechCrunch reported on Wednesday. It was not clear whether the health insurer pulled down the pages to represent a shift in terminology or an actual change in its policies, the report said. ‘We comply with existing and emerging laws while striving to support what is best for the communities we serve.’ UnitedHealth told Reuters in a statement, without giving additional details. According to TechCrunch's report, multiple pages of the UnitedHealth website dedicated to DEI now redirect to a ‘page not found’ error when compared to archived copies of the site.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Y6f178
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)
FDA/NIH: Via States Newsroom, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominees to lead the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health. Senators voted 53-47 along party lines Tuesday evening to confirm Jayanta Bhattacharya as director of the NIH before voting 56-44 to approve Martin Makary as FDA commissioner. Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois as well as Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire were the only three members of their party to vote for Makary.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Y64dWF
CUTS: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota State Health Department officials are scrambling following the abrupt termination of millions in federal grants. The grants, which had already been approved, were intended for systems relating to data collection implemented during the COVID pandemic. Minnesota Department of Health Commissioner Brooke Cunningham says to have them suddenly yanked is unprecedented.” QUOTE: "We literally got a cancellation of over $200 million in grant funding," says Cunningham. "We received a cancellation on Tuesday that was effective on Monday." LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/41Lu34H
HENNEPIN: Via news release from Hennepin Healthcare, VERBATIM: “Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS) Chief Executive Officer Jennifer DeCubellis has notified the HHS Board of her intent to step down from her role effective May 10, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3E7RaNH
ESSENTIA: Via Essentia, VERBATIM: “Essentia Health is pleased to announce Dr. Stefanie Gefroh as our new West Market president. Dr. Gefroh has served in this role on an interim basis since August 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/426GZRo
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia is a Fluence client)
From morning take…
BIRTH CONTROL: via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy released research Wednesday that lays the groundwork for the first hormone-free male birth control pill to enter clinical trials. … The drug, called YCT-529, was 99% effective within four weeks in preventing pregnancies in mice trials, according to the University of Minnesota, [and] all test subjects regained fertility weeks after stopping the drug.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/43LiA6L
DRUG PRICES: via a Sen. Amy Klobuchar news release, VERBATIM: “U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) [have] introduced the Preserve Access to Affordable Generics and Biosimilars Act and the Stop Significant and Time-wasting Abuse Limiting Legitimate Innovation of New Generics (Stop STALLING) Act, two bipartisan bills to reduce drug prices by promoting competition and taking on Big Pharma’s abuses of deals with competitors and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) petitions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hKUJXW
MORE: via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “Two bills heard recently by the Minnesota Health and Finance House Committee aim to make prescription drugs cheaper for patients. HF1075 [would] require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to use drug rebates to reduce out-of-pocket costs. … HF1076 [would] require health carriers and PBMs to include and prioritize low-cost options for prescriptions in their coverage plans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iGXUkE
PSYCHEDELICS: via FOX 9, VERBATIM: “A new bill would erase criminal and civil penalties for the use and possession of psilocybin — often found in ‘magic mushrooms’ — for those 21 years old and older. [Advocates said] the bill would help ‘reduce the burden on the criminal justice system’ by allowing the personal use and cultivation of the psilocybin-containing mushrooms in a private residence. The proposal would also establish the Psychedelic Medicine Board ‘to ensure the safe and appropriate use of psilocybin in the state.’ It would in part be tasked with setting possession limits.” READ/WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4249dwe
HEALTHCARE: via MPR News, VERBATIM: “Nearly half of the University of Minnesota Medical School’s class of 2025 is staying in the North Star State for residency. The school is hopeful this will help shore up the primary care provider pipeline. … Of the 217 U of M near-graduates [last week], 46% matched in a Minnesota residency program; 51% matched in primary care. Dr. Jeffrey Chipman, the University of Minnesota Medical School's senior associate dean of undergraduate medical education and an acute care surgeon, said some of those students are specifically in rural programs to help increase health care in greater Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hRMHN9
Sign up for morning take… https://fluence-media.co/3ClMOla
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)
FOOD STAMPS: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s campaign to swiftly bar the use of food stamps to buy soda is fueling tensions between his team and the Agriculture Department, according to four people inside and outside government familiar with the dynamics. The Health and Human Services secretary wants the Trump administration to approve state petitions banning soda from the program for the first time. But he doesn’t control the massive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which is managed by the USDA.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42jxxvn
SOCIAL SECURITY: Via The Washington Post, VERBATIM: “The Social Security Administration on Wednesday abruptly backed off planned cuts to phone services for disabled and some elderly Americans applying for benefits amid an uproar from advocates. The originally proposed changes — scheduled to take effect Monday but now delayed to April 14 — would have directed all people filing claims to first verify their identity online or in person, removing a phone option in place for years. Advocates said the shift would make it impossible for many disabled and elderly people with limited mobility or computer skills to apply.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FIlkYt
MEDICAID: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Health insurers got double-paid by the Medicaid system for the coverage of hundreds of thousands of patients across the country, costing taxpayers billions of dollars in extra payments. The insurers, which are paid by state and federal governments to cover low-income Medicaid recipients, collected at least $4.3 billion over three years for patients who were enrolled—and paid for—in other states, a Wall Street Journal analysis of Medicaid data found. The patients were signed up for Medicaid in two states at once, in many cases following a move from one to the other. Most were getting all their healthcare services through one insurer in one state, even though Medicaid was paying insurers in both states to cover them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QQfLte
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)
MEASLES: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “Measles vaccination rates for young children may be far lower than publicly reported, a troubling development that could mean the United States is closer than expected to losing its ‘elimination status’ for the extremely contagious disease . . . As of Wednesday, there have been over 420 cases of measles this year – already surpassing the total number of cases for 2024. Most are in West Texas, where a growing outbreak has spread into neighboring states, but a handful of cases, linked to international travel, have been reported in other states.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hR2WKo
NEURO: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Amprion, a global leader advancing diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders through seed amplification testing, today announced a collaboration to expand access to Amprion's SAAmplify–αSYN (CSF) test across the United States. The test (test ID ASYNC) is available today for clients of Mayo Clinic Laboratories through the collaboration that combines the expertise of both organizations to enhance patient care and improve diagnostic accuracy for neurodegenerative diseases.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iK7Lqb
NEXTGEN: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “A new program at Hennepin Technical College is connecting students with real-world job opportunities in health care, IT and manufacturing. Dubbed HTC Works, it’s an apprenticeship program that can lead to a full-time job opportunity. ‘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 with Hennepin Tech.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hMFXju
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
STROKE: From University of Michigan via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “When someone has a stroke, it can accelerate the loss of cognitive ability over the coming years. Stroke survivors who have attended some level of higher education may face even steeper mental declines, according to a study led by Michigan Medicine.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42j11cJ
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