LIST: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “UCare’s Troy Brice, Chief Customer Experience Officer, made the list!! The Ambient Experience 100 (AX100) list of global executives focused on transforming customer and employee experience in their industries. Thank you for keeping customer experience top of mind at UCare Troy!” POST: https://fluence-media.co/42QuLPd (SPONSORED: UCare)
POLL: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “As Senate committee hearings begin for President Donald Trump’s nominees for key health positions, the latest KFF Tracking Poll on Health Information and Trust finds that public trust in government health agencies has fallen over the past 18 months, continuing a decline that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The share who says they trust the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) ‘a great deal’ or ‘a fair amount’ to make the right recommendations on health dropped slightly from 66% in June 2023 to 61% now, while trust in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and state and local public health officials each dropped by double digits (from 65% to 53% and 64% to 54%, respectively).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CvFYtv
MORE: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “Overall, while Democrats are much more likely than Republicans to express trust in federal health agencies, much larger shares of Republicans say they trust Trump and his nominees to oversee these agencies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WEH8tH
ORAL HEALTH: Via University of Michigan, VERBATIM: “In reporting which oral hygiene practices their child does all or most days, most parents say their child brushes their teeth twice a day (64%) and brushes for at least 2 minutes (59%); fewer parents say their child cleans their tongue (35%), flosses (23%), uses mouthwash or fluoride rinse (22%), or rinses their mouth with water after consuming sugary foods or drinks (15%). Only 20% of parents say their child does 4-6 of these oral hygiene practices all or most days compared to 41% saying 2-3 practices and 38% reporting 0-1 practices. Parents report fewer oral hygiene practices for boys than girls.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gfIemv
DRINKING: Via CNN, VERBATIM: “A new CNN poll conducted by SSRS released Friday finds that half of US adults say that moderate drinking is bad for health, more than double the share who said the same two decades ago. Women and adults younger than 45 are more likely than men and older adults to say that moderate drinking is bad for health, as were Democrats and independents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jCDHNO
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
THIS MONTH: From MDH via X, VERBATIM: “January is National Radon Action Month. During the wintertime, radon levels are higher than any other season. In Minnesota, 2 in 5 homes have high radon. Now is a good time to get your home checked. You can get a radon test kit for $12.95 at http://mn.radon.com.” TWEET: https://fluence-media.co/4hc3Cul MORE: https://fluence-media.co/4gf3bOp
AIR: From Carly Mallenbaum via Axios, VERBATIM: “Air quality in the Twin Cities is getting worse, according to year-over-year data. Why it matters: Long-term exposure to poor air quality is harmful to your health. By the numbers: The average percentage of fine particle pollution in the Twin Cities increased 12.3% from 2021-23, compared to 2014-16.” READ/MAP: https://fluence-media.co/4aAUzQV
HEALTHCARE: From The Phia Group via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Despite the fact that the United States spends more on health care than any other developing country, it ranks last for quality health care. Today The Phia Group, a leading health care cost containment firm, has released The Phia Group Healthcare Index, a state-by-state health care quality and cost analysis, indicating that Minnesota, Hawaii, and Montana had the highest quality, most affordable health care. Conversely, Nevada, South Carolina, and Texas ranked lowest in the country for health care quality and affordability.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42yJspU
DENIALS: From Christopher Snowbeck via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A new report finds Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealth Group and two Blue Cross Blue Shield nonprofit insurers had the highest claim-denial rates among individual market health plans sold in 2023 on the federal government’s HealthCare.gov platform. Overall, insurers in the market denied nearly 1 out of every 5 claims for payment, or 19%, for in-network services, according to the report from KFF, a California-based health policy group. It found significant variation between companies, with denial rates ranging from as low as 1% to as high as 54%.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gfFA03
MORE: Via KFF, from the report:
REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/4jLjHsC
INSULIN: From Madison Roth via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced Monday his office reached a settlement with Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk to make insulin $35 a month for Minnesotans with or without health insurance for the next five years. The announcement comes after Ellison reached a similar settlement with two other big names in the insulin industry: Eli Lilly and Sanofi.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aCttZO
From morning take…
UMN: via Pioneer Press, VERBATIM: “The University of Minnesota and Duluth-based Essentia Health announced a partnership Friday to develop a new nonprofit health care organization to include a $1 billion investment in the next five years, as the university’s future with Fairview Health Services remains uncertain. … Described as an ‘all-Minnesota’ solution, the new organization would educate future health professionals, address urgent health care needs and assure ‘the future of academic medicine in Minnesota and essential financial support to the University of Minnesota Medical School,’ according to the U.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gdJmqP
Sign up for morning take…
DEER RIVER: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Essentia Health and the union representing about 70 health care workers at Essentia-Deer River have agreed on a new contract. The workers, who are part of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), went on a five-day strike last November and then walked out again on December 8th. The union and Essentia say that 92% of union membership voted in favor of the agreement.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3EcFE3z
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
THIS WEEK: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “President Donald Trump has nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer with no formal medical or public health expertise, as secretary of Health and Human Services. Two Senate committees will question Kennedy this week on how his disproven views of science and medicine qualify him to run the $1.7 trillion, 80,000-employee federal health system. Here are four considerations for lawmakers on the Senate Finance and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees, which will host Kennedy for questioning on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EeDFf0
DRUGS: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed openness to adopting a key progressive proposal for lowering drug prices during a closed-door meeting with Senate Finance Committee staffers, according to three people familiar with the exchange, who were granted anonymity to speak freely about private discussions. President Donald Trump’s health secretary nominee last week indicated he’d consider authorizing the government to seize the patents of high-priced medicines from manufacturers and share them with other drug makers as a way to force down costs, said the three people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PRRS4b
GRANTS/LOANS: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “The White House’s budget office ordered government agencies to pause grants and loans on a host of government programs, the latest in a freeze on federal action that has upended health agencies. The internal memo, sent on Monday, explicitly targets gender-affirming care and global financial assistance, citing two of President Trump’s priorities during his campaign and his initial storm of executive orders on Inauguration Day. Its broad language about “grants and loans” could ensnare a number of other federal health and assistance programs, health care and legal experts speculated late Monday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CAEqhO
WHO: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “U.S. public health officials have been told to stop working with the World Health Organization, effective immediately. A U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official, John Nkengasong, sent a memo to senior leaders at the agency on Sunday night telling them that all staff who work with the WHO must immediately stop their collaborations and ‘await further guidance.’ Experts said the sudden stoppage was a surprise and would set back work on investigating and trying to stop outbreaks of Marburg virus and mpox in Africa, as well as brewing global threats. It also comes as health authorities around the world are monitoring bird flu outbreaks among U.S. livestock.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hurTvc
MEDICAID: Via DHS, VERBATIM: “A new state report – co-created with community leaders – offers reflection, guidance and recommendations for action to better use Medicaid to support the health and well-being of American Indian communities. ‘Pathways to Racial Equity in Medicaid: Improving the Health and Opportunity of American Indians in Minnesota’ aims to address the ongoing health disparities experienced by American Indian communities in the state. The report from the Minnesota Department of Human Services is the result of extensive community engagement, incorporating guidance from American Indian community members, Tribal leaders and health care providers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EfBJD3
MAYO: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “American Hospital Dubai, a distinguished member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network and the globally renowned Mayo Clinic, announced an enhanced collaboration marking a milestone in advancing healthcare delivery, medical education, and research in Dubai and the region.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40Abizh
WADENA: From Miles Walker via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Astera Health is on the verge of quite the milestone. With the grand opening of the organization’s brand new cancer center in Wadena only a few months away, many had the opportunity to tour the brand new facility Friday morning. While the cancer center is still under construction, those invited on the tour got to see and learn what’s right around the corner in healthcare for central Minnesota.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4jsAvEF
MB: Via The Minneapolis Egotist, VERBATIM: “Media Bridge, one of the fastest-growing and largest women-led advertising agencies in the Twin Cities, announces the formation of the MB Health Advisory Board as part of its growing MB Health practice. Bringing together Minnesota business leaders and innovators in health and medical fields, the new advisory board aims to build on the state’s reputation for health care innovation by creating a platform for collaboration among Minnesota’s top health care leaders.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jsF1D7
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
AGING: From National University of Singapore via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “A collaborative study between researchers from the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS Medicine), and the Institute for Biostatistics and Informatics in Medicine and Ageing Research, Rostock University Medical Center, Germany, investigated how advanced AI tools, like Large Language Models (LLMs), can make it easier to evaluate interventions for ageing and provide personalised recommendations.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PRtcbZ
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