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POLLING
MAHA: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Republicans hope the Make America Healthy Again movement becomes a permanent fixture of a big GOP tent. But the party can’t count on its support heading into midterm elections this November. New results from The POLITICO Poll show both broad frustration and dissatisfaction with the Trump administration on health priorities and opportunities for Democrats to make inroads with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA supporters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tdlKtc
DOMESTIC WORRIES: Via Gallup, VERBATIM: “As the Iran war intensified in March, the latest Gallup poll found healthcare topping Americans’ list of domestic concerns, with more saying they worry ‘a great deal’ about it (61%) than about 15 other domestic policy areas. This was followed by four economic matters of high concern to about half of adults: the economy, inflation, federal spending and the budget deficit, and the way income and wealth are distributed.”
“Healthcare’s current position represents a return to its prominence in prior decades. It ranked as the top concern from 2015 to 2020, before being displaced during the Biden presidency by other issues, especially the economy and inflation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NQ8gom
MEDS: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “Prescription drugs touch the lives of most people in the U.S. in some way, and the public broadly recognizes their benefits. About two-thirds (66%) of adults say they are currently taking at least one prescription drug, and three in ten (31%) say they currently take four or more prescription medications. While many adults across age groups take prescription medications, older adults are much more likely to report taking 4 or more medications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dPqrVG
LGBT: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “LGBT people, like the public overall, worry about the economy, with eight in ten (83%) LGBT adults saying their cost of living has increased in the past year, including more than half (58%) who say it has increased “a lot.” These are similar to the concerns among non-LGBT adults, 82% of whom say their cost of living has increased, including half who say it has increased ‘a lot’.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4cf6cPY
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
REPORT CARD: Via rePROs Fight Back, VERBATIM: “Today rePROs Fight Back released its 50-State Report Card on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights tracking multiple indicators during 2025 including access to family planning, sex education, abortion care, and gender-affirming care. The US flunked for the seventh year in a row, with the lowest overall grade in the report card’s 14-year history amid continuing fallout from attacks on Title X and Medicaid. Twenty-five states failed while 16 got ‘As’ or ‘Bs,’ reflecting polarization between places where access and rights are eroding, and places that still preserve them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4tkERBQ
MORE: Via rePROs, Minnesota’s report card – the state received a “B.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3PD1V05
RULING: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The Supreme Court on Tuesday overwhelmingly sided with a Christian therapist, rejecting a Colorado law that prohibited mental health professionals from trying to change the sexual orientation or gender identity of L.G.B.T.Q. minors. The court’s decision has implications for more than 20 other states that have similar laws barring so-called conversion therapy, and is a major win for conservatives.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sKMsd2
MORE: Via Revisor of Statutes, Minnesota’s conversion therapy law. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4gZZ230
ACA: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “The share of Affordable Care Act insurance customers in plans that cost more than $6,000 a year doubled, a sign of the squeeze on household budgets after Congress let Covid-era assistance expire. The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services posted data late Friday on ACA plans, also called Obamacare, that showed total enrollment this year dipping by about 5% to 23.1 million. That figure doesn’t yet count people who still may drop off plans because they can’t pay premiums, so the decline is expected to deepen.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4dUbT76
340B HOSPITAL MARKUPS HURT PATIENTS: Minnesota’s latest 340B report shows covered entities generated $1.34 billion IN PROFIT in 2024, including an estimated $261 million from Medicaid prescriptions. Independent research finds the program raises costs for patients, taxpayers, and employers statewide. Minnesota should sunset the 340B mandate and Congress should fix the federal 340B program, so it actually helps patients. LEARN MORE: https://fluence-media.co/46Bh9IA (SPONSORED: PhRMA)
MAHA
PROTEIN: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “Protein is having a moment. From coffee chains adding it to lattes to food companies marketing protein cookies and snacks, to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. touting steak instead of cake, the noise around protein can make it hard to know what you actually need. And under Kennedy, the federal government updated the Dietary Guidelines to recommend a higher daily protein intake than before. But nutrition science makes it clear that protein is not one-size-fits-all.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3PL3ngQ
NEW GUIDANCE: Via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “New nutrition guidance from the American Heart Association advises getting protein from plants rather than meat, choosing low-fat or fat-free dairy and using olive, soybean and canola oils instead of beef tallow and butter. The recommendations, released Tuesday by the association, contrast with dietary guidelines that the Trump administration introduced earlier this year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sNhssS
TEEN GIRLS: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “The newest evangelists of the Make America Healthy Again lifestyle aren’t muscled bros crushing reps or wellness moms posting about vaccine schedules — they’re high-school- and college-aged young women. In another, not-too-distant era, they might have channeled their energy into writing “Twilight” fan fiction or playing beer pong. In this era, they’re making “pizza crust” from ground meat, perfecting their supplement regimens and posting Instagram reels about the supposed dangers of Tylenol and seed oils.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3PGbkny
MORE THAN A HOSPITAL: In communities across Minnesota, Essentia Health directly or indirectly supports nearly 19,000 jobs and generates $5.7 billion in labor output every year. From Deer River to Aurora and Detroit Lakes, hospitals are often the largest local employer and keep communities healthy. Learn more about Essentia Health’s economic impact here. (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
HEALTH IN MN
NEXT MONTH: Via Minnesota Oral and Facial Surgery, VERBATIM: “The Head and Neck Cancer Foundation will host its annual free oral cancer screening events across the country during Head and Neck Cancer Awareness week, April 13-17, 2026. The foundation seeks to bring awareness and education around head and neck cancers and the importance of early detection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/411Rd5I
MORE: Via MNOFS, a schedule of events. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4lXMziA
MAY 21: Via Medical Alley, VERBATIM: “In 2026, Medical Alley is doubling down on transformation. As the unprecedented global network for health and life sciences, comprising 800+ partners and over 2,000 startups, we recognize that true innovation is measured not just by its technical sophistication, but by its reach. To celebrate this momentum, we’re breaking the mold. This year’s partners-only event moves away from the traditional ‘sit-down’ gala as the evening is designed to foster energy and connection.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Qc5YR1
ST PETER: Via KARE-TV, VERBATIM: “A Twin Cities law firm has filed a lawsuit against the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and several employees of the Forensic Mental Health Program (FMHP), alleging that neglect and indifference led to a violent death inside the FMHP at the Minnesota Security Hospital in St. Peter in 2023. David Otey killed his roommate, Abdirashid Hussein, inside the facility on Dec. 31, 2023. The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Monday on behalf of Hussein’s brother.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sLpLWb
HCMC: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Hennepin County Medical Center is coming dangerously close to closing. As March comes to a close, the head of the hospital board, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde, says they were able to find $50 million dollars in cuts in order to survive the first quarter of the year - but they still have to find $125 million more to cut by the end of the year, a massive number they say isn’t survivable.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3NMPD4F
FIREFIGHTERS: Via Worthington Globe, VERBATIM: “Only a week into spring, southwest Minnesota has been besieged by several fires and has been placed under a fire watch, effective today. As the fires grow, many firefighters subject themselves to physical and mental health risks as they keep communities safe. Helping firefighters get access to health resources is the Minnesota Firefighter Initiative (MnFIRE), a nonprofit based in Isanti. In its 10th year of operation, the organization is currently teaming up with firefighters and departments across the state for its ongoing public awareness campaign.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4saiG0f
FUNDING: Via Minnetonka-based Monteris, VERBATIM: “Monteris Medical, a private company leading the field in minimally invasive neurosurgery with its NeuroBlate System for magnetic resonance-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT), announced today that it has closed $28 million in Series E equity financing. The equity capital will support the company’s technology innovation program and other growth initiatives. Monteris also announced that it has refinanced its current debt and established a new $35 million credit facility with Trinity Capital.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sJ7ecO
RURAL HEALTH: Via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Rural health care is in trouble. Last fall, the University of Minnesota Medical School made a significant move to help address what is a critical problem. Its strategy: launch two new outstate campuses offering four-year medical education and training programs. Campuses in Duluth and St. Cloud welcomed their first four-year cohorts in August 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sN8mMG
NEXTGEN: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Central Lakes College has joined Bemidji State University’s Operation LEAD initiative, which aims helps Minnesota’s nurses quickly and affordably earn bachelor’s degrees. The partnership aims to address ongoing workforce shortages in health care by making higher education more accessible for working nurses. Through Operation LEAD, students enrolled at CLC can transfer into BSU’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program and complete their degree in as little as one year after earning their associate’s degree.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4dU5SaA
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
AI: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic research identified a powerful new way to improve the prediction of a patient’s long-term cardiovascular disease risk by enhancing a routinely performed imaging test with artificial intelligence (AI). Heart disease develops over time and remains the leading cause of death worldwide, so identifying risk early is critical to preventing heart attack, stroke and other serious outcomes.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4s2bF1r
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
KNEE PAIN: Via PLOS, VERBATIM: “A major analysis of nearly 10,000 patients shows that simple, non-drug treatments like knee braces, hydrotherapy, and exercise can significantly ease knee osteoarthritis symptoms. These approaches not only reduce pain and improve mobility, but also avoid the risks tied to common medications. The findings suggest that low-cost, accessible therapies could play a bigger role in how doctors treat arthritis in the future.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bXp70t
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