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POLLING
FAMILY DOC: Via HealthDay, VERBATIM: “More than 8 in 10 U.S. adults (84%) have a family physician or primary care doctor, according to a new HealthDay/Harris Poll survey. But many of these folks have a family doctor only on paper, it seems. The survey found that nearly 3 out of 5 people who have a family doctor (58%) say they are unable to receive care when they need it – due to a lack of available appointments, an inability to reach a receptionist, a too-long wait for the next open date or other similar problems.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42Y3mtj
COMMUNICATION: Via ASHA, VERBATIM: “A new national poll commissioned by ASHA and conducted by YouGov of caregivers to adults with communication difficulties highlights the importance of effective communication and reveals what caregivers and their care recipients face every day. Fortunately, professional support from audiologists and speech-language pathologists can make a positive difference and substantially improve the quality of daily life for everyone concerned. The timing of this new information is highly relevant, as May is recognized as National Speech-Language-Hearing Month.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e6cQsJ
STI: Via Annenberg, VERBATIM: “While data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that the total number of U.S. cases of three sexually transmitted infections (STIs) declined from 2022-24, infection rates remain 13% higher than a decade ago. CDC provisional data show more than 2.2 million U.S. cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis were reported in 2024. Now, a nationally representative survey of empaneled adults from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania finds that while most Americans understand how STIs spread, there are significant gaps in public knowledge about which infections can be prevented through vaccination.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dxq8OT
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 IN MN
NEXT MONTH: Via news release from the Attorney General, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Attorney General’s Office is inviting members of the public to share their opinions on the proposed acquisition of North Memorial Health by Sanford Health at a community forum on Monday, June 8, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in Robbinsdale, Minnesota.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3RvFDOI
VAPES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “As the Trump administration takes action to loosen regulations on fruity flavored e-cigarettes, anti-tobacco activists in Minnesota are stepping up efforts to ban flavored vapes and other nicotine products at the local level. Several groups are joining forces to push for a ban or at least restrict the sale of flavored nicotine in Olmsted County, home to Minnesota’s third largest city, Rochester. They’ve formed a coalition called ‘Love Your Lungs Olmsted,’ arguing that flavored tobacco products are designed to entice and hook kids on harmful and addictive nicotine.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4f4Gsb1
RURAL: Via KSTP-TV, VERBATIM: “Rural health leaders in Minnesota say state funding rules and a stalled drug discount measure are leaving some hospitals with few options. One issue involves the federal 340B program, which allows hospitals to buy prescription drugs at discounted rates. This past session, the Senate voted for protections to expand the number of pharmacies that got the discount, but the House did not take up the measure. Rural health leaders said they are also upset over guidelines for a $500 million reserve fund that Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) and other struggling safety-net hospitals will have access to.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4v5Qo8Q
HCMC: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “In the wake of recent attention on HCMC’s financial woes and resulting bailout from the state Legislature, the training program –one of 11 residencies at the hospital – offers an under-the-radar example of the stakes for public health should the hospital continue to falter. Since its establishment in 1970, the residency has trained over 550 doctors – about 34 at any given time. Roughly 75% of graduates have stayed in Minnesota to practice, according to Hennepin Healthcare figures.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oaaQU1
SOUTH MPLS: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “The Native American Community Clinic announced this week that its south Minneapolis health clinic and affordable housing project is expected to open in September. And those interested in applying for one of its units are able to apply today. The $55 million dollar project along Minneapolis’ American Indian Cultural Corridor is being spearheaded by the clinic and a coalition of public, private and philanthropic partners.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Rz5vZY
U OF M: Via Sahan Journal, VERBATIM: “A major expansion at a community health center in south Minneapolis will boost care for vulnerable residents in an era when they need it most. The Community-University Health Care Center serves low-income residents, immigrants and refugees, regardless of their ability to pay. Last year, it saw more than 12,000 patients. Collectively, the center’s patients speak more than 50 different languages, and the majority rely on public health insurance.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4v5QyNn
SALMONELLA: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has confirmed that two people in Minnesota became ill with Salmonella in April 2026 after consuming moringa capsules from the brand tnvitamins (lot 2793, expiration February 2028) purchased on Amazon. Neither person was hospitalized and both have recovered. MDH is warning people not to consume the tnvitamins brand of moringa leaf powder capsules.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4veYTi7
LEGISLATORS STEPPED UP FOR HCMC, BUT MORE SUPPORT IS NEEDED FOR RURAL HOSPITALS: Savings from the 340B drug program help local hospitals sustain access to cancer treatment, specialty services, and technology investments in rural communities. While drug companies continue to raise prices and rake in profits, rural hospitals will be forced to stretch limited resources even further if legislators don’t step up to strengthen the 340B program. READ MORE: Tough times for rural hospitals after legislative session - KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
HEADLINES
HANTAVIRUS: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Sunday said the hantavirus ‘situation is stable for now.’ Tedros provided an update stating that WHO has reported 12 cases of hantavirus and three deaths, with no other confirmed deaths since May 2.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4vbCnXo
TREATMENT: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is offering to shield drugmakers from legal liability as an incentive to develop treatments for the Andes hantavirus that caused a deadly outbreak on a cruise ship this month. Why it matters: The move is stirring criticism within Kennedy’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ movement and harks back to COVID-era protections the government gave to obtain antivirals, vaccines and other products during the health emergency.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Q04Wbc
EBOLA: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expanding its power to prevent individuals from entering the U.S. ‘in the interest of public health’ — including lawful permanent U.S. residents. An interim final rule, released Friday, cites the current Ebola outbreak as the reason for the change.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uv97L5
MORE: Via ABC News, VERBATIM: “Some public health specialists told ABC News that monitoring travel exposures is an important part of containing and tracing the spread of a disease. However, they warned that broader bans can have unintended consequences that may negatively impact global public health and hinder containment efforts that should be considered when making these decisions.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tU175r
ACA: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Both the Trump administration and state officials agree on the numerical fact: People this year are dropping their Obamacare coverage — to the tune of 1.2 million people out of a total enrollment of 24.3 million as of March, according to the latest federal data. But they are at odds over why. Trump officials say better federal policing of fraud on Healthcare.gov accounts for much of the drop. Meanwhile, some state Affordable Care Act exchanges blame higher costs, particularly after Congress decided not to extend beyond Jan. 1 the enhanced subsidies that brought premiums down for higher-income people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4uxqwCN
APPOINTMENT: Via Essentia, VERBATIM: “Essentia Health is proud to announce that its CEO, Dr. David Herman, has been appointed to Joint Commission’s Board of Commissioners, the organization’s governing body responsible for advising leadership and shaping strategy to advance healthcare quality and safety nationwide. Joint Commission is a global driver of quality improvement and patient safety in healthcare. The organization accredits and certifies more than 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States.”
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia is a Fluence sponsor)
INNOVATION & RESEARCH
HEART DISEASE: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “In a small, preliminary study, an experimental gene-editing treatment dramatically lowered cholesterol levels, perhaps permanently, after just one infusion, scientists reported on Monday. If confirmed in larger studies, researchers hope the findings may lead to a one-and-done way to prevent heart disease in large numbers of people. Most gene therapies target rare diseases, but cardiovascular disease kills nearly 800,000 Americans a year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dy11vd
STROKE: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Stroke can happen anywhere to anyone. In the U.S., someone has a stroke every 40 seconds. And Mayo Clinic experts say knowing the risk factors of stroke can help prevent long-term disability and even death.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dRjcLp
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
NASAL SPRAY: Via Texas A&M, VERBATIM: “Researchers at Texas A&M have developed a nasal spray that appears to reverse brain aging by calming inflammation and restoring the brain’s energy systems. After just two doses, memory and cognitive function improved for months, raising hopes for future treatments targeting dementia and brain fog.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4wT6hkD
GLP-1: Via University of Pennsylvania, VERBATIM: “By analyzing over 400,000 Reddit posts, researchers discovered that users of popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs frequently discussed unexpected symptoms like menstrual irregularities, chills, and hot flashes. The findings suggest AI could turn social media into a powerful early-warning system for spotting side effects that clinical trials may miss.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49Tluby
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