THURSDAY: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “UCare's offices will be closed on Thursday, June 19, in honor of Juneteenth - a day to appreciate freedom, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for equality.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/45y2M8h (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLL: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “Medicaid has always been pretty popular, which is why the latest numbers on it even surprised pollster Ashley Kirzinger.” QUOTE: "We actually are seeing a pretty significant uptick in Medicaid popularity," says Kirzinger, who is director of survey methodology for health research organization KFF. According to a poll published Tuesday, 83% of the public have favorable views of Medicaid. Just a few months ago, in January, that figure was 77% of the public. "The largest uptick we saw in favorability of the past couple of months was among Republicans." READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZwFmfB
MORE: Via KFF, from the poll:
SEE: https://fluence-media.co/446ESye
AP/NORC: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “As Republican senators consider President Donald Trump’s big bill that could slash federal spending and extend tax cuts, a new survey shows most U.S. adults don’t think the government is overspending on the programs the GOP has focused on cutting, like Medicaid and food stamps. Americans broadly support increasing or maintaining existing levels of funding for popular safety net programs, including Social Security and Medicare, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. They're more divided on spending around the military and border security, and most think the government is spending too much on foreign aid.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Ttbmh6
RFK JR: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “New polling about Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and elements of his policy agenda shows how his ‘Make America Healthy Again’ push doesn't break down along the same neat partisan lines as other issues, creating some political vulnerability and some opportunity. A significant majority of U.S. adults support using vaccines to prevent diseases, including majorities of Republicans, Democrats and independents, according to the NBC News Decision Desk Poll powered by SurveyMonkey. And the share of people who believe vaccines are most to blame for chronic health issues is small, two dynamics that are at odds with Kennedy's repeated efforts to cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of vaccines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZzvW31
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
HORTMAN: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Three days before she was killed by an assassin targeting Minnesota Democrats, Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman told me she thought work in the Legislature was becoming harder because Republicans were more concerned with the culture war than economics. I interviewed Hortman, the DFL leader in the Minnesota House since 2017, and House Speaker Lisa Demuth, who has led Republicans in the House since 2023, separately by phone last Wednesday for a column published this weekend. We were discussing the issue that most divided the two leaders in this year’s legislative session: ending publicly funded insurance to undocumented, or illegal, immigrants. The big surprise during budget negotiations, Hortman said, was that Republicans put ending that Medicaid insurance above all other issues, including regulatory changes sought by Minnesota businesses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/444Wzho
SENATE BILL: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “Senate Republicans on Monday released legislation that would cut Medicaid far more aggressively than would the House-passed bill to deliver President Trump’s domestic agenda, while also salvaging or slowing the elimination of some clean-energy tax credits, setting up a fight over their party’s marquee policy package. The measure, released by the Senate Finance Committee, contains the core provisions of that chamber’s version of the legislation that Republicans muscled through the House last month and are hoping to speed through the Senate and deliver to Mr. Trump's desk by July 4. But its differences with that bill are substantial and are all but certain to complicate the measure’s path to enactment, casting doubt on that timetable.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4kOn6Hd
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)
ANALYSIS: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “Key health care provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, especially the proposed Medicaid cuts and Affordable Care Act marketplace reforms, would lead to 16,642 preventable deaths every year if implemented, according to a new analysis published Monday in Annals of Internal Medicine. The proposed changes would also result in 7.6 million people losing insurance coverage, according to the analysis, which relied on data from a recent Congressional Budget Office analysis as well as data from at least four peer-reviewed studies of previous Medicaid expansions and cutbacks.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45YOhu8
CUTS: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “A federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan on Monday accused the Trump administration of ‘appalling’ and ‘palpably clear’ discrimination against racial minorities and LGBTQ+ Americans. ‘I’ve never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable. I’ve sat on this bench now for 40 years. I’ve never seen government racial discrimination like this,’ said U.S. District Judge William Young, a Massachusetts-based jurist who took the bench in 1985. Young’s sweeping rebuke during a court hearing was a reference to two executive orders signed by President Donald Trump that led the National Institutes of Health to rescind funding for research related to racial minorities and LGBTQ+ people.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4e722sX
LAWSUIT: Via The 19th, VERBATIM: “The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) filed a lawsuit on behalf of 17 state domestic violence and sexual assault organizations on Monday, arguing that restrictions the Trump administration has placed on grants are illegal and conflict with requirements laid out in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) released updated grant guidelines on May 7 that said organizations applying for funding must certify that they are not promoting ‘gender ideology’ or ‘illegal’ diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The new guidance also says they can’t prioritize services to ‘illegal aliens’ over citizens.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n7v1kl
VA: Via The Guardian, VERBATIM: “Doctors at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals nationwide could refuse to treat unmarried veterans and Democrats under new hospital guidelines imposed following an executive order by Donald Trump. The new rules, obtained by the Guardian, also apply to psychologists, dentists and a host of other occupations. They have already gone into effect in at least some VA medical centers. Medical staff are still required to treat veterans regardless of race, color, religion and sex, and all veterans remain entitled to treatment. But individual workers are now free to decline to care for patients based on personal characteristics not explicitly prohibited by federal law.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45WJJ7C
MORE: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “VA press secretary Peter Kasperowicz, a former politics editor at Fox News Digital, reportedly did not deny that veteran patients could be denied care and physicians could be dismissed based on their marital status or political affiliation when reached by The Guardian. But White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly adamantly denied The Guardian’s reporting. Writing on social platform X, Kelly addressed the article’s writer, Aaron Glantz, saying, ‘Aaron, this is a totally FALSE story that The Guardian should retract immediately. Fearmongering with our Veterans to try to score clicks for your failing ‘news outlet’ is pathetic and shameful.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TqWMGO
CDC: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official who led the agency's network to study hospitalization trends from infectious diseases like COVID-19 has resigned in protest following Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s orders to change the agency's vaccine recommendations and the committee that makes them. Dr. Fiona Havers' last day at the CDC was Monday, according to an announcement sent by an agency official to her branch within the agency's Coronavirus and Other Respiratory Viruses Division. They received the notice shortly after Reuters first reported on the resignation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4464NWE
ESSENTIA HEALTH INVESTS IN TWIN PORTS NURSES: Total payroll for Essentia Health Duluth-Superior nurses is $164 million, with $53 million paid in salary increases over the past 3 years. Essentia Health has also increased clinical support staff by 10% over the past 3 years, providing additional support for those nurses. Over half of Duluth area nurses have been with us for over 5 years and enjoy exceptional work-life balance. To join our team at Essentia Health, search for openings HERE: https://fluence-media.co/3FzLe0i (SPONSORED: Essentia Health)
SALMONELLA: Via The Canadian Press, VERBATIM: “Four people have been sickened in two states by salmonella poisoning linked to pistachio cream, a nut butter spread used in desserts and other dishes, federal health officials said Monday. Three people in Minnesota and one in New Jersey fell ill between March 10 and May 19, including one person who was hospitalized. The outbreak is tied to Emek brand pistachio cream with a use-by date of Oct. 19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3ZAtTM9
OPIOIDS: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “All 50 states as well as the District of Columbia and U.S. territories have approved a $7.4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma, maker of Oxycontin, over the company's improper marketing of opioids. The deal was filed with a federal bankruptcy court by Purdue Pharma officials in March after negotiations with state attorneys general and other stakeholders. If this plan is finalized, payouts will occur over the next 15 years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4464WcE
MAGIC MUSHROOMS: From Wiley via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “New results from a clinical trial reveal that a single dose of psilocybin -- a naturally occurring psychedelic compound found in mushrooms -- can provide sustained reductions in depression and anxiety in individuals with cancer suffering from major depressive disorder. The findings are published by Wiley online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. People with cancer often struggle with depression. In this phase 2 trial, 28 patients with cancer and major depressive disorder received psychological support from a therapist prior to, during, and following a single 25-mg dose of psilocybin.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3TsMNkl
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)
NOVEL: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “New literature adventure awaits for readers as Erika Lynn Adams, a local author releases a new book that hits close to home. The newly released book is called ‘Allie’s Adventure on the Wonder.’ The book takes inspiration from the classic tale of ‘Alice in Wonderland’ by Lewis Carroll. However, Adams’ version explores life with auditory processing disorder (APD).” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4e4hnu5
PLATFORMED: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “At PlatforMed 2025, the fourth annual gathering focused on platform transformation in healthcare, one message resonated above all: a platform-based approach is no longer just aspirational — it’s delivering measurable, meaningful change. Held June 3-4 at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, PlatforMed brought together more than 250 leaders from healthcare, government, technology and academia. The event spotlighted how platform thinking is advancing clinical care, empowering clinicians, and making high-quality care more accessible everywhere.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4ebWsFE
UNITEDHEALTH: Via Becker’s, VERBATIM: “UnitedHealthcare is ending broker commission payments for some of its Medicare Advantage plans. In a statement shared with Becker’s June 17, a spokesperson said the company will not pay commissions for new enrollments for a ‘small percentage’ of its Medicare Advantage plans beginning July 1.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4n7tP0f
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SELF-EXAM: From Ohio State via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “The OSUCCC -- James survey found that only 13% of U.S. adults -- just over 1 in 10 -- correctly identified testicular cancer as most commonly affecting men under 40. This is significant, as the disease is most prevalent among men between the ages of 20 and 40. Additionally, two-thirds (65%) of respondents believe an evaluation should be part of an annual exam after age 40. However, cancer experts note that self-exams are most relevant between the ages of 20 and 40.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43PFERe
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