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POLLING
MIDTERMS: Via Ipsos, VERBATIM: “When asked to describe the most important factors influencing their vote in the 2026 midterm elections, the economy and high prices were the most cited issues among registered voters at 54%. Additional voting priorities among registered voters include immigration (28%), Iran/Israel/foreign policy (20%), honesty/ethics/corruption (17%), and health care/abortion (15%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Tsc5Cr
DISCRIMINATION: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “A 2024 survey found that nearly half of the participants experienced discrimination when accessing healthcare services. Consequently, one in three individuals chose to forgo necessary care. In June, the Minnesota Department of Health’s Health Economics Program published findings from this survey regarding patient experiences with discrimination in healthcare settings.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hmNbOv
MORE: Via MDH, from the survey:
READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gQ6K1C
SMOKE: Northern Michigan’s UpNorthLive asked its viewers if they’d experienced health issues related to wildfire smoke – 59% said “yes”. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3RKY4zm
BEANS: Via Humane World for Animals, VERBATIM: “Nearly three in five meat eaters (57%) say they would be willing to replace meat with beans at least once a week, while 62% are open to reducing their overall meat consumption. About two-thirds of meat eaters are concerned about the impact of their meat consumption on household finances/grocery costs (67%), personal health (64%), and animal welfare (64%), while nearly three in five say the same of impact on the environment and climate (58%).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yuEaJq
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
TOMORROW: Via Allina, VERBATIM: “Allina Health will host a special celebration and ribbon-cutting event to mark the opening of the Richard M. Schulze Surgical and Critical Care Center at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. The new 620,000-square-foot facility expands critical care capacity, advances surgical care and enhances the patient and family experience through modern care environments and advanced technology. The center represents the largest infrastructure investment in Allina Health’s history and includes 190 private patient rooms, advanced surgical suites and a 27,000-square-foot rooftop healing garden. Patients will begin receiving care in the facility on August 29, 2026.”
NEXT WEEK: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, on Aspirus Health‘s closure of the Lake View Silver Bay Clinic. The hearing will be held at the Aspirus Health Lake View Two Harbors Clinic located at 325 11th Ave., Two Harbors, MN 55616.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RlpFqM
MEDIA: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A Delaware judge dismissed UnitedHealth Group’s defamation lawsuit against the Guardian, the U.K. news outlet that published a May 2025 story alleging the Eden Prairie-based health giant made secret payments to reduce costly hospital transfers. In a ruling Monday, Delaware Superior Court Judge Calvin L. Scott, Jr., dismissed all six defamation claims in the lawsuit. In one count, the judge wrote that UnitedHealth Group’s lawsuit ‘cherry picks’ language to allege the Guardian was making claims that weren’t actually part of its report.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4yuOHnW
CYCLOSPORA: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “The source of the Cyclospora illness outbreak remains unknown, after the Food and Drug Administration announced Sunday that a previous test identifying the parasite in a sample of lettuce from Taylor Farms de Mexico was not actually contaminated with Cyclospora. The agency reviewed the results and said in a statement it ‘concluded that the finding does not represent true amplification and should be considered a false positive.’ On social media, however, the FDA clarified that ‘this false-positive lab sample DOES NOT change the basis for FDA’s ongoing outbreak investigation or the overwhelming epidemiological data supporting the current voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vM18ZP
DOGS + HEAT: Via CCX Media, VERBATIM: “Extreme heat has engulfed most of Minnesota recently, bringing with it a surprising medical trend. According to a local expert, the ‘dog days of summer’ often correspond with a literal rise in dog bites. Dr. Craig Matticks, Medical Director of The Urgency Room in Golden Valley, says the clinic treats patients with dog bite injuries on a weekly basis. This influx tends to spike significantly during the spring and summer months as families and pets spend more time outdoors together.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3TwnXDs
DIGITAL HEALTH: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Upcoming high school senior Clara Rebhan visits her favorite café in West St. Paul, Amore Coffee, to take a break from screens. She meets with friends in the summer or, during the school year, finds a space to sit and do homework assignments at the café. ‘This is definitely a spot that I continue to go to,’ she said. Rebhan is Cheyenne River Lakota and a student at Two Rivers High School in Mendota Heights. She participates in a club dedicated to digital well-being — a club she will lead when the academic year begins in September.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Tt7kIQ
OPIOIDS: Via Anoka County, VERBATIM: “Anoka County today released a continuing medical education resource on FacesOfHopeAnoka.org, a free online platform created to support efforts to prevent opioid use disorder through sharing educational tools and hopeful stories.” QUOTE: “Prescribing opioids for pain management involves risks, not only for patients, but also for others who may have access to their prescriptions,” said Dr. Susan Ferron who created the program with Dr. Georgia Panopoulos. “These educational resources present a comprehensive approach to effective management of pain that either makes opioid prescribing unnecessary, or includes opioid prescribing that minimizes these risks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fsGA2z
NEXTGEN: Via Fierce Healthcare, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration is moving ahead with a visa rule change that will require some medical trainees to seek government approval to remain in the country long enough to finish their programs. The Department of Homeland Security’s policy change for F, J and I nonimmigrant visas was floated as a draft last August and finalized last week with a Sept. 15 effective date. Medical educators and hospitals say the shift away from the current system—which is referred to as ‘duration of status’ and allows nonimmigrant students to stay for the duration of their education programs—could disrupt physician training, bring new administrative burdens and impact current and future care delivery.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45eLwDn
HIV FUNDING: Via Roll Call, VERBATIM: “The Trump administration will not renew direct federal funding of community-based organizations that work on HIV prevention, according to multiple groups impacted by the freeze. The move is the latest step in the administration’s push to eliminate funding for DEI-focused initiatives that help the LGBTQ community. But this one directly contradicts the White House’s push to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fqu6bP
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
CLINICAL TRIALS: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “A Mayo Clinic study published in JAMA Network Open found that bringing some or all clinical trial-related activities directly to patients can help overcome barriers that prevent many people from participating. Increased participation and expanded access to research was observed for people in rural communities and underserved populations. The study evaluated Mayo Clinic’s decentralized clinical trials program, which allows many research activities to take place outside a traditional research site through services such as remote informed consent, video visits, in-home blood draws, remote monitoring and home delivery of oral study medications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vFZau0
WOMEN’S HEALTH: Via Minneapolis-based Visana, VERBATIM: “Visana Health, a virtual 50-state medical group for women, today announced that it has redesigned its annual well-woman visit around a simple idea: women shouldn’t have to choose between a free preventive visit and getting answers to the symptoms affecting their health today. The Complete Women’s Health Visit from Visana combines preventive care, symptom evaluation, and expertise across gynecology, primary care, and endocrinology to help women get answers sooner and leave with a personalized, evidence-based care plan based on their individual health goals.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hqD3Ep
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
FLU: Via European Molecular Biology Laboratory, VERBATIM: “Scientists uncovered how influenza A commandeers human cells, including a surprising strategy that dissolves tiny structures in the nucleus and releases proteins the virus may use to reproduce. The detailed molecular map could reveal new drug targets and help researchers study dangerous flu strains such as H5N1.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wmUg6E
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