THURSDAYS: From UCare via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Join us every Thursday this month for a free community health clinic at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be free health coaching, dental screening, and community resources.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4iqzlrz (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
WORRIES: Via Gallup, VERBATIM: “After the change in presidential administrations, partisans’ worries have shifted significantly on most of the 16 issues Gallup measured, as Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents have become more concerned, while Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are less worried.”
“Americans’ top-ranking worries are pocketbook issues, including the economy (60% worry a great deal), healthcare costs (59%), inflation (56%), federal spending and the budget deficit (53%), and the Social Security system (52%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Y9Vm6j
MEDICAID: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “A majority of Americans who voted for President Trump oppose cuts to Medicaid funding, according to a recent poll. Two-thirds of surveyed swing voters oppose cutting Medicaid spending to pay for tax cuts, as do 51 percent of surveyed Trump voters, according to the poll conducted by the firm Fabrizio Ward.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4iqH3Sx
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
EMS: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “There’s a push to support emergency funding across the state. In the Twin Cities, if you call 911 for a medical emergency, help typically arrives within minutes. However, that isn’t always the case in parts of Greater Minnesota. State leaders want to make sure ambulances and paramedics are able to keep operating in rural areas by using taxpayer dollars to help . . . The Minnesota Ambulance Association says the state is at a breaking point when it comes to EMS services, saying outdated funding systems, low Medicaid reimbursement and workforce shortages are threatening the availability of 911 response times.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3G0KvFO
WELLSHARE: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “WellShare International offers free, holistic mental health services across Minnesota, particularly targeting rural and underserved communities. The program includes group classes on coping skills and one-on-one sessions with community health workers like Noor, meeting them where they are. It provides services at churches and will visit clients in their own homes. Noor travels around the Mankato area to serve clients and connects with leaders in the area to be referred to new people who need help. However, the future of these services is uncertain due to a significant funding cut.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jrehlC
CAMERAS: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Though they remain a contentious subject, cameras in care facilities are gaining ground. By 2020, eight states had joined Minnesota in enacting laws allowing them, according to the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-Term Care: Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/426gRrl
MAYO: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine today again has been rated as a top national medical school in the country by U.S. News and World Report's ‘Best Graduate Schools’ in the category of medical school: Research. The rating methodology places medical schools into one of four tiers; Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine is in the highest tier, Tier 1.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42nH6Iw
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)
VACCINES: From MDH via X, VERBATIM: “With increased cases of pertussis (whooping cough) and flu this year, it’s more important than ever to protect your child from vaccine preventable diseases.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/3E0CPTt MORE: https://fluence-media.co/3Emn9K7
MEASLES: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has begun redeploying staff to respond to the deadly outbreak of measles in Texas, a spokesperson said Monday, a week after steep layoffs at the agency impacted its response to the spread of the virus . . . Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. first said Sunday that the CDC would be redeploying to Texas at its governor's request, after another unvaccinated child died in the measles outbreak. An 8-year-old girl was the second fatality there this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42xPWop
STREP: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “Severe, possibly life-threatening strep infections are rising in the United States. The number of invasive group A strep infections more than doubled from 2013 to 2022, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Prior to that, rates of invasive strep had been stable for 17 years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4csQXl5
NEXT MONTH: From Susan G. Komen via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Susan G. Komen, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, today announced it will host a Race for the Cure this spring. The 2025 Komen Minnesota Race for the Cure will take place on Saturday, May 10, 2025 uniting survivors, families and advocates in a powerful movement to fund research, provide patient support and drive meaningful change for those impacted by breast cancer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/428RKUU
FLUORIDE: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. kicked off a tour through southwestern states on Monday by calling on states to ban fluoride in drinking water supplies, a move that would reverse what some medical experts consider one of the most important public health practices in the country’s history. The announcement came at a news conference in Utah, the first state to enact such a ban into law. The state’s new law is set to take effect in early May, despite concerns from public health experts who consider fluoridation of water core to preventing tooth decay.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42hZfYd
STUDY: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “A study published in Brain Communications highlights a new approach to treating drug-resistant epilepsy. Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed an innovative deep brain stimulation (DBS) platform that was used to not only reduce seizures, but also improve memory and sleep — two common challenges for patients with epilepsy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ltnETI
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)
MEDICARE: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Health insurer stocks soared on Tuesday because the Trump administration said it would substantially increase payment rates for Medicare insurers next year, generating more than $25 billion in additional revenue for the industry and doubling the boost proposed in January. The news led to a rally in the shares of big Medicare insurers such as UnitedHealth Group, Humana and CVS Health, parent of Aetna. Shares in UnitedHealth rose 8% in morning trading, while Humana was up more than 11% and CVS increased 9.5%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4clGQ1i
RURAL: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “Rural hospital leaders are questioning whether they can continue to afford to do business with Medicare Advantage companies, and some say the only way to maintain services and protect patients is to end their contracts with the private insurers. Medicare Advantage plans pay hospitals lower rates than traditional Medicare, said Jason Merkley, CEO of Brookings Health System in South Dakota. Merkley worried the losses would spark staff layoffs and cuts to patient services. So last year, Brookings Health dropped all four contracts it had with major Medicare Advantage companies . . . But rural hospitals abandoning their Medicare Advantage contracts can leave local patients without nearby in-network providers or force them to scramble to switch coverage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EoLuyZ
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)
HCMC: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Hennepin Healthcare has appointed interim leadership after the current CEO said she would be stepping down later this year. On Thursday, the Hennepin Healthcare System (HHS) Board of Directors announced Dr. Thomas Klemond as interim CEO. The appointment will be effective April 11.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4lj4Ia9
BCBS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The parent company of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota posted a smaller operating profit once again last year, showing more evidence that above-average COVID-era earnings are over for health insurers. For 2024, Aware Integrated, the parent company of Eagan-based Blue Cross, saw operating income of $27.6 million, down about 73% from the previous year due to what the company called historically high levels of health care utilization in 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3FZQ1Zk
CHILDREN’S: From Children’s Minnesota via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Children's Minnesota, the only independent nonprofit pediatric healthcare system in the state, is thrilled to announce a generous, unrestricted commitment of $3 million from the Robert M. Jones Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation. This significant contribution will empower Children's Minnesota to continue delivering world-class care to children for generations to come.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jnXzUa
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SMOKE: From Carnegie Mellon University via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Since the end of the 20th century, air pollution from most U.S. sources has decreased, but emissions from wildland fires have risen. In a new study, researchers estimated that smoke from wildfires and prescribed burns caused $200 billion in health damages in 2017, and that these were associated with 20,000 premature deaths. Senior citizens were harmed the most, and Native American and Black communities experienced the greatest damages per capita.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j3Odgw
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