NEXT MONTH: There are nine flu shot clinics on UCare’s calendar for the month of October. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3KirTmP (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
SHUTDOWN: Via Strength in Numbers, VERBATIM: “Our new Strength In Numbers/Verasight poll this week asked voters how they would react to three different hypothetical shutdown scenarios.”
“According to our poll, a small plurality of Americans would blame Republicans for the shutdown in every tested scenario.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/46F3qkx
MORE: Via Navigator Research, VERBATIM: “66 percent of Americans have heard ‘a lot’ or ‘some’ about a potential government shutdown, with 21 percent having heard ‘a lot.’ Only 32 of battleground Americans say they’ve heard ‘nothing’ or ‘a little’ about a potential shutdown. More would blame Republicans than Democrats for a shutdown, but not by much: 44 percent of battleground constituents would blame Democrats in Congress, while 49 percent would blame Trump and Republicans in Congress. This is a departure from our flagship survey, in which a similar share of Americans said they would blame Republicans (45 percent), but there was much more division between blaming Democrats (26 percent) and blaming both sides equally (21 percent).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mGGJB6
GEN Z: Via news release from Blue Shield of California, VERBATIM: “Gen Z youth are sounding the alarm: nearly all (94%) report experiencing mental health challenges in an average month. That’s according to a new poll of California teens and young adults by Blue Shield of California‘s BlueSky youth mental health initiative and Children Now.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46LzJwC
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
SHUTDOWN: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Federal health agencies under Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would furlough more than 40% of their remaining workforce in a government shutdown, according to a contingency plan. Why it matters: Some 32,460 government health workers would be without work at least temporarily under the plan and could lose their jobs if Trump follows through on threats to fire those deemed nonessential in a funding lapse. The furloughs or firings would come on top of sweeping cuts that pushed out thousands of scientists and health workers earlier this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IRql2J
TELEHEALTH: Via Fierce Healthcare, VERBATIM: “Medicare beneficiaries stand to lose access to two key virtual care programs that the federal government has offered since the start of the pandemic if the government shuts down Tuesday at midnight. The Medicare telehealth waivers and Acute Hospital at Home programs are set to expire Oct. 1 unless Congress passes a short-term government funding bill to avert the crisis. Health systems and virtual care companies alike will have to decide, one by one, whether they can withstand the risk of continuing to provide the programs in the event of a shutdown.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46JvVMv
ABORTION: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “The number of abortions provided by clinicians in the United States has declined this year as the effects of new restrictions bear out and it becomes more common to manage an abortion outside the formal health care system, a new report suggests. Abortion access has been in flux over the past three years since the US Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision revoked the federal right to an abortion. Abortions increased nationwide in 2023 and in 2024, despite bans implemented by more than a dozen states and other barriers. But there has been a notable decrease in 2025, according to data published Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute, a research and policy organization focused on sexual and reproductive health that supports abortion rights.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KxJUxs
PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota’s Planned Parenthood locations are preparing for an influx of Wisconsin patients starting this week. The reason is Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announced a pause in abortion services due to federal Medicaid cuts. Now, Planned Parenthood North Central States is gearing up to absorb patients in neighboring states like Minnesota according to CEO Ruth Richardson.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4nE8HP9
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)
OPIOIDS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Diagnoses of opioid use disorder among the commercially insured jumped nearly 40% nationwide between 2021 and 2024, according to data from FAIR Health‘s Opioid Tracker shared first with Axios. Why it matters: The finding suggests the opioid crisis cuts across demographics and income levels, putting health systems and insurers coming out of the pandemic under mounting pressure to manage addiction treatment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3IOGu96
MORE: Via FAIR Health, a heat map showing opioid use diagnoses per 100,000 patients:
SEE: https://fluence-media.co/46v3GSV MINNESOTA REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4nFyA0Q
MEDS: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump sent letters to 17 of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies at the end of July. He demanded that they voluntarily lower U.S. prices for some of their drugs to match what they charge affluent foreign nations. ‘If you refuse to step up, we will deploy every tool in our arsenal to protect American families from continued abusive drug pricing practices,’ he wrote, requesting a response by September 29. The time has come for the companies to draw up to the table. Eli Lilly appears to have publicly responded, pledging to raise prices in Europe to lower what they charge in the U.S. And Bristol Myers Squibb said it plans to charge the same list price for its new schizophrenia treatment in the United Kingdom as in the U.S.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pOXpZK
MORE: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Novartis said it is launching a direct-to-patient platform in the U.S. to sell a discounted version of its Cosentyx drug, the latest big pharma company to move to cut prices ahead of the Trump administration’s deadline. The Swiss pharmaceutical company said Monday that it would offer select units of Cosentyx—a drug treating immune-mediated inflammatory conditions like psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis—at a 55% discount to cash-paying patients with a prescription. The platform will come into effect on Nov. 1.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42PlFRG
NAMI: Via WCCO-TV, VERBATIM: “It’s a subject you hear about all the time these days, but not that long ago, mental health was rarely a public conversation. One in five adults experiences mental illness and 1 in 20 adults has a serious mental illness. At least 17% of kids and teens have a mental health disorder, too. Those are numbers Sue Abderholden, soon-to-be-retired executive director of National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) Minnesota, wasn’t afraid to share even when others were. Abderholden was in college when she faced the subject that would guide her way.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/42YgfUu
EATING DISORDERS: Via news release from St. Paul-based Emily Program, VERBATIM: “The Emily Program, a nationally recognized leader in eating disorder treatment, affirms its commitment to individualized and collaborative care by endorsing the new informative guidebook, ‘Choosing Eating Disorder Treatment in the Age of Hybrid Care: A Guide for Loved Ones, Patients, & Providers,’ co-branded by the REDC Consortium and the National Alliance for Eating Disorders. This guidebook was developed in response to growing concerns from individuals and families about one-size-fits-all messaging when seeking care for themselves or their loved ones.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3VIZIjl
BRAINERD: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Central Lakes College students, leadership, and representatives gathered last Wednesday for a ‘floss-cutting’ ceremony at the Dental Programs’ brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in Brainerd. The Dental Hygiene program itself is new at Central Lakes College. Officials hope it will help provide the full scope of preventive periodontal care for many patients within the area at a lower cost, increasing access to care for the general public at CLC’s on-campus dental clinic.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4nmK0Xk
STUDY: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “A new international study led by Mayo Clinic researchers has identified a genetic factor that may explain why some patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to the liver experience more severe liver damage after chemotherapy. For patients with colorectal liver metastases, surgery offers the best chance of long-term survival. To improve outcomes, many patients receive chemotherapy before surgery. While this approach can shrink tumors to make them more operable, one potential side effect is injury to the liver. Until now, it hasn’t been clear why certain patients’ livers are more prone to chemotherapy-associated liver injury.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nnsPow
DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF RURAL HEALTH CARE, ESSENTIA IS RECOGNIZED FOR PROVIDING TOP CLINICAL CARE: According to the latest report from Minnesota Community Measurement, a statewide resource on health care quality, costs and equity, Essentia ranked as a high performer with 19 of 20 clinical quality metrics scoring above statewide averages. According to Dr. Maria Beaver, chief quality and patient safety officer at Essentia: “This is a testament to the amazing care provided by all our clinical care teams and all our colleagues who support them.” LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4dCxy1D (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
VIOLENCE: Via Minnesota Women’s Press, VERBATIM: “At a conversation held at St. Catherine’s University by Twin Cities Nonviolent in September, four legislative leaders talked about how to reduce violence in our communities. The panelists included current Minnesota senators Heather Gustafson, Zaynab Mohamed, Erin Murphy, and former senator Patricia Torres Ray.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gP0rcA
COSMETIC SURGERY: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “Cosmetic surgery chains across the country are attracting patients by promising ‘minimally invasive’ operations to reshape their bodies or get rid of stubborn fat — even helping arrange outside financing for people who can’t pay up front. Hundreds of thousands of patients are undergoing such procedures each year, and plastic surgeons can make more than $500,000 each year in one of the highest-paid specialties in American medicine. An investigation by KFF Health News found that lawsuits filed by injured patients have trailed the industry’s growth, in some cases alleging that surgeons lacked adequate training, had histories of malpractice lawsuits, or had faced disciplinary action by state medical licensing boards — yet crossed into another state and kept practicing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46wo1r8
POLLUTION: From European Respiratory Society via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Eating fruit may reduce the effects of air pollution on lung function, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3KtRl8T
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)
MMA: Via MMA, VERBATIM: “Lisa Mattson, MD, of Plymouth, was installed as the Minnesota Medical Association’s (MMA) 159th president on September 26, during the association’s Empowering Physicians event in Minneapolis.”
LEECH LAKE: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe and the State of Minnesota recently partnered for a historic financial package that brought two new wellness centers to the reservation, as well as an expansion for the Kego Lake Community Center. Last Friday, the band broke ground on the new wellness center coming to Ball Club.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48FcK98
MAYO: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Saudi German Health (SGH), a leading healthcare provider and pioneer in advancing medical excellence across the region, today announced a major expansion of its relationship with Mayo Clinic. This milestone cements SGH as the largest group of Mayo Clinic Care Network members in the region, bringing world-class expertise and innovation closer to patients across the Kingdom and beyond.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nVi38R
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
JUNK FOOD: From UNC via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Scientists discovered that high-fat junk food disrupts memory circuits in the brain almost immediately. Within just four days, neurons in the hippocampus became overactive, impairing memory. Restoring glucose calmed the neurons, showing that interventions like fasting or dietary shifts can restore brain health. This could help prevent obesity-related dementia and Alzheimer’s.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42RfcWp
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