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POLLING
AFFORDABILITY: 47% of voters in a New York Times/Siena poll say health care is unaffordable. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3NRVhC2
MAHA: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “Republicans are betting on an electoral boost from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again movement — especially around his healthy-food agenda . . . The White House, GOP state lawmakers and Republican pollsters believe that Kennedy’s focus on reforming America’s food has broad bipartisan appeal that can help the party hold its razor-thin majorities in Congress . . . By the numbers: Kennedy’s efforts to remove synthetic dyes from food, for example, have support from at least 8 in 10 parents, a recent poll from nonpartisan health research organization KFF and The Washington Post found. But even so, some Democrats insist that Kennedy’s anti-vaccine bent, the GOP’s Medicaid cuts and the Republican inability to extend enhanced Obamacare premiums will turn off more voters than those enticed by promises of healthier diets.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bTZY8j
ABORTION: Via National Review, VERBATIM: “Once again, this year’s Knights of Columbus/Marist survey of 1,408 adults showed strong support for many pro-life policy goals. It found that a majority of Americans oppose taxpayer funding for abortion, and an impressive 67 percent opposed taxpayer funding for abortions overseas. Additionally, 63 percent support conscience rights for health care professionals. Most impressively, a whopping 84 percent support the work of pro-life pregnancy centers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45vTetE
AI: Via CIO Dive, VERBATIM: “AI has become one of the most exciting technologies for the healthcare sector, given hopes the tools can help sift through vast amounts of data, speed administrative work, and assist doctors with documenting care and finding medical information. Some workers are turning to shadow AI tools to do this, according to the survey by Wolters Kluwer, which offers its own AI-backed clinical decision support product. More than 50% of administrators and 45% of care providers said they used unauthorized products because they offered a faster workflow. Additionally, nearly 40% of administrators and 27% of providers reported using shadow AI because the tool had better functionality or there weren’t approved products.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46hzkCJ
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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
CHARITY CARE: Via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “In the first full year after Minnesota’s charity care screening law took effect, many nonprofit hospital systems increased their charity care spending. A Post Bulletin analysis of nine hospital systems’ federal tax documents found that seven increased their charity care spending between fiscal years 2023 and 2024: CentraCare Health, Essentia Health, Fairview Health Services, Hennepin Healthcare System, Mayo Clinic, Sanford Health and Olmsted Medical Center. ‘I think it is a positive thing that we are seeing that increase,’ said Minnesota Sen. Liz Boldon, DFL-Rochester. Boldon co-authored, with Eagan DFL Rep. Liz Reyer, the 2023 bill-turned-law that requires nonprofit hospitals to screen patients for their financial assistance, or charity care, eligibility before taking certain actions, such as sending outstanding medical bills to collections, to recoup their unpaid debt.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bojOIU
JOB CUTS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Hennepin Healthcare, the nonprofit that runs one of Minnesota’s largest safety-net hospitals, is cutting 100 jobs along with several medical services in hopes of closing a $50 million budget hole by the end of March. Employees in affected service areas were notified Jan. 26 about job losses, the health system said, and will receive more details in the coming weeks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4sUqqF0
WATER: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has sent hundreds of millions of dollars to states so schools can test their water for lead. Exposure to lead has a bearing on children’s health and development. But Molly Samuel from member station WABE in Atlanta reports that even with the testing paid for, some school districts are slow to take advantage of it.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/4t4bVi4
RADON: Mayo Clinic answers questions about radon and explains why testing is important. READ: https://fluence-media.co/49KutMP
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT
PRETTI: Via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “The final nursing student mentored by Alex Pretti at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs hospital shared a powerful remembrance Sunday, describing Pretti as patient, compassionate, calm and ‘incapable of causing harm.’ Pretti, a 37-year-old local resident and U.S. citizen, was shot and killed by federal agents in south Minneapolis’ Eat Street area Saturday morning.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NGIqmd
MORE: Via MedPage, VERBATIM: “Nurse organizations and other health professional groups expressed outrage and sorrow over Saturday’s killing of intensive care nurse Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qLV6qF
MUNITIONS: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “The Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol did not respond to questions about what chemicals have been used during Operation Metro Surge. Munitions experts warn that ingredients in grenades and canisters — some of which can be harmful and some less so — fall under proprietary information and can vary by the private companies that produce them.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bFRhyH
MISSING CARE: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The escalation of ICE activity in Minnesota is disrupting care at hospitals and clinics that already were navigating shifting legal standards on immigration enforcement in their facilities. Why it matters: Health workers say many patients aren’t coming in for necessary care out of fear they’ll be detained by federal agents. ‘This has become a public health crisis,’ Janell Johnson Thiele, a nurse and union leader at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, told Axios.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LP4IBN
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
COVID: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “Federal officials in May 2023 declared an end to the national covid pandemic. But more than two years later, a growing body of research continues to reveal information about the virus and its ability to cause harm long after initial infections resolve, even in some cases when symptoms were mild. The discoveries raise fresh concerns about the Trump administration’s covid policies, researchers say. While some studies show covid vaccines offer protective benefits against longer-term health effects, the Department of Health and Human Services has drastically limited recommendations about who should get the shot. The administration also halted Biden-era contracts aimed at developing more protective covid vaccines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k9aWt0
DATA: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “Nearly half of the databases that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used to update regularly — surveillance systems that tracked public health information like Covid vaccination rates and hospitalizations for respiratory syncytial virus — have been paused without explanation, according to new research. The findings, published Monday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, indicate that at the start of 2025, the CDC maintained 82 databases that were updated at least monthly. But by the end of October, the study found, 38 had gone stale, with 34 showing no new entries at all in the previous six months.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qNATRg
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)
KEEPING ACTIVE
SPORTS: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “While staying active is critical, playing sports adds a social aspect and extra cognitive demands to exercising. And research suggests that some sports may offer a bigger longevity boost than others.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k2WRgk
SHOVELING: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “This weekend’s winter storm brought a lot of heavy, wet snow to parts of the country, which makes shoveling a tougher task. Cardiologist Dr. John Osborne talks about the health risks of shoveling.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3ZGTyC9
BONES: Via University of Hong Kong, VERBATIM: “Researchers have discovered a biological switch that explains why movement keeps bones strong. The protein senses physical activity and pushes bone marrow stem cells to build bone instead of storing fat, slowing age-related bone loss. By targeting this ‘exercise sensor,’ scientists believe they could create drugs that mimic exercise at the molecular level. The approach could protect fragile bones in people who are unable to stay active.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4q1tBrI
HEALTH BUSINESS
IPO: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “More than half a century after what began as a two-dentist operation in Brooklyn Center, Park Dental Partners has gone public with an eye toward national growth. The Roseville-based dental practice completed an initial public stock offering in December and raised about $20 million, which executives said will go toward expanding the company’s footprint and the number of dentists on the company’s payroll.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k3S66t
VIRTUAL CARE: Via VNA, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Organization of Leaders in Nursing (MOLN) is pleased to announce a collaborative partnership with the Virtual Nursing Academy (VNA) designed to strengthen nursing leadership and expand virtual care capabilities throughout Minnesota. This alliance brings cutting-edge virtual nursing education directly to Minnesota’s nursing leaders, empowering them to design and implement effective virtual care programs that address today’s healthcare challenges.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qKlgtX
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CANCER: Via University of Würzburg, VERBATIM: “Pancreatic cancer may evade the immune system using a clever molecular trick. Researchers found that the cancer-driving protein MYC also suppresses immune alarm signals, allowing tumors to grow unnoticed. When this immune-shielding ability was disabled in animal models, tumors rapidly collapsed. The findings point to a new way to expose cancer to the body’s own defenses without harming healthy cells.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a0AeVk
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