FLU SHOTS: From UCare via LinkedIn, VERBATIM: “We partnered with Sabathani Community Center and M Health Fairview to bring FREE flu shots to the heart of South Minneapolis. Tis the season to get protected. We’ll be back Sept. 29.” POST: https://fluence-media.co/46lC8PQ (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
VACCINES: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “The new KFF-Washington Post Survey of Parents takes a deep dive into parents’ views and decisions related to childhood vaccines. The survey finds that while a large majority of parents report following current vaccine guidance and are confident in the safety of MMR and polio vaccines, some, including larger shares of Republican parents and younger parents, express doubts about the current childhood vaccine schedule.”
“When it comes to parents’ choice to vaccinate their children, a large majority (83%) report keeping their children up to date on childhood vaccines, however, about one in six (16%) say they have skipped or delayed at least one vaccine for any of their children (excluding vaccines for the flu or COVID-19).” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nIz466
RFK JR: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “More than half of registered voters are not confident in medical information cited by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to a new poll. When asked in the Quinnipiac University poll about their level of confidence ‘in medical information cited by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,’ 57 percent of respondents said they are ‘not so confident’ or ‘not confident at all.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nFsRbL
APPOINTMENTS: Via news release from University of Michigan, VERBATIM: “In the last year, 38% of people age 50 and over said another adult attended at least one of their health care appointments, including 4% who said someone attended a telehealth appointment with them. And 34% have accompanied another person over 50 to at least one appointment, including 4% who attended another older adult’s telehealth visit, according to new findings from the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/48Bg0Cp
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
AGILITI: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “Agiliti has invested more than $35 million to develop a next-generation hospital bed, one that fits the needs of all kinds of patients and the health care workers taking care of them. The Eden Prairie-based company that rents and services hospital equipment has moved into manufacturing its own bed after years of handling models from other manufacturers. ‘When you eat your own cooking, you tend to be a better chef,’ said Tom Leonard, Agiliti’s chief executive, during a visit to the company’s Eagan service center.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46qflCE
CANNABIS: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has launched Be Cannabis Aware, a new public health campaign focused on educating youth under age 25—and the adults who support them—about cannabis use. The campaign offers clear, science-based information without judgment, helping young people make informed choices.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mKFgda
TYLENOL: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that pregnant women should follow their physicians’ advice in deciding whether or not to take Tylenol, striking a different tone after President Donald Trump strongly discouraged its use.” QUOTE: “What I took from the president’s announcement and also the CDC’s recommendations here is we just have to be careful,” Vance said in a NewsNation interview. “We know that some of these medications have side effects. We know that even despite those side effects, sometimes they’re necessary. So my guidance to pregnant women would be very simple, which is: Follow your doctor.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gGVyCn
MORE: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Dr. Mehmet Oz on Tuesday softened President Trump’s warnings that pregnant women should not take Tylenol due to a largely unproven link to autism. In an interview with TMZ, Oz, who leads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said pregnant women should consult with a physician and use the medication if they have a high fever.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42JIiXH
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)
IMPEACHMENT: Via Fox News, VERBATIM: “A congresswoman from Michigan announced Thursday that she will introduce articles of impeachment against Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., citing the ‘health care chaos’ and rising costs during his tenure. Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., has repeatedly called for Kennedy’s removal, most recently citing funding cuts for cancer research, infant death syndrome and combating addiction, as well as increased health care costs. Kennedy’s restriction of vaccine access is another issue, as well as him spreading of ‘absurd conspiracies’ that have put people’s lives in danger, Stevens said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gDAE70
WEST NILE: Via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “West Nile Virus cases in humans are on the rise statewide as Minnesota is seeing a West Nile outbreak.” QUOTE: “It wouldn’t be unexpected to see kind of one of those years where we have a bit more going on,” says Elizabeth Schiffman, an Epidemiologist Supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Health. “Because last year was kind of toward the low end. But this year we’ve really climbed up so as of our current total, I believe we’re up to 70 cases which is more than we’ve seen for the last probably 10 years.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/47WAzZV
STEM CELLS: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “More than 4 million people worldwide have end-stage kidney disease that requires hemodialysis, a treatment in which a machine filters waste from the blood. Hemodialysis is a precursor to kidney transplant. To prepare for it, patients typically undergo surgery to connect an artery and a vein in the arm, creating an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) that allows blood to flow through the vein for treatment. However, AVF fails about 60 percent of the time due to vein narrowing. This is a major barrier to effective treatment. Mayo Clinic researchers found that transplanting patients’ own stem cells from fat cells into the vein often helped prevent inflammation and vein narrowing.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42y5isT
SCHOOLS: Via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “Mental health care services are available in more than 80% of Minnesota’s public school districts. That figure represents progress over the past 20 years, though persistent gaps remain. While most student mental health support is provided by a combination of school staff and school-based mental health practitioners employed by outside agencies, other nonprofit programs also spend time in the state’s schools, offering unique types of care. These services include peer support for students living with addiction, or culturally specific support groups and activities designed to meet the unique needs of students from immigrant and refugee communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4mzeTXc
IRON RANGE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “St. Louis County took a step forward in suicide prevention with a new coalition starting on the Iron Range. According to data from the Minnesota Department of Health, an estimated 813 Minnesotans died by suicide last year, with rural counties experiencing a higher rate than urban ones. On Wednesday, the St. Louis County Suicide Prevention Coalition held a kick-off event at the Mountain Iron Community Center, following discussions by the community this summer, hoping for more resources.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3IudN1c
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)
THIS WEEKEND: Via news release from Bayer, VERBATIM: “Bayer announced today that data from across the KERENDIA (finerenone) comprehensive clinical trial program will be presented at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA)’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 26-29, 2025.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/46IGjUU
BILL NYE: Via Golden Valley-based NAF, VERBATIM: “The National Ataxia Foundation (NAF) today announced the launch of The Science Guy: Back in the Lab for FA, a new educational campaign to raise awareness and understanding of Friedreich ataxia (FA), a rare, genetic disease. The campaign, in partnership with leading biotechnology company, Biogen, features a four-part series starring Bill Nye ‘the Science Guy,’ who uses his iconic teaching style to break down the complicated science behind FA.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pEdqBI
VACCINES: Via MPR, VERBATIM: “Minnesotans may be struggling to navigate a blizzard of state and federal news last week around vaccines and who should get them. It’s hard to keep up and, like trying to read the fine print on a medicine bottle late at night, it can be a little unnerving. Here’s a look at five key questions tied to the recent news on vaccines, with answers that can help.” Q&A: https://fluence-media.co/3VAKOfa
MORE: Via Mayo Clinic, COVID-19 vaccine guidance. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/46EXKpa
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)
MEDICARE: Via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “UnitedHealth Group is facing a torrent of accusations that it and its industry peers have exploited the Medicare Advantage program to gain billions in extra payments from the federal treasury. These coding practices have been well-documented for years, prompting critics to ask: How has this persisted for over a decade? The stalemate stems from a rash of reasons, including worries about cutting benefits for seniors and the lobbying clout of health insurers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nohjcE
AI: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “Taking a page from the private insurance industry’s playbook, the Trump administration will launch a program next year to find out how much money an artificial intelligence algorithm could save the federal government by denying care to Medicare patients. The pilot program, designed to weed out wasteful, ‘low-value’ services, amounts to a federal expansion of an unpopular process called prior authorization, which requires patients or someone on their medical team to seek insurance approval before proceeding with certain procedures, tests, and prescriptions. It will affect Medicare patients, and the doctors and hospitals who care for them, in Arizona, Ohio, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Texas, and Washington, starting Jan. 1 and running through 2031.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nHSurG
BEMIDJI: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Sanford Health in Bemidji held a grand opening for its new Peak Center on Tuesday. The newly relocated outpatient therapy department on 2017 Net Way NW was previously a part of the group’s Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center on the main Sanford Bemidji campus. Moving to the 23,000-square-foot, $3.3 million facility was done for several reasons, the biggest of which was that Sanford was outgrowing its previous space.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/48BeBvD
RCTC: Via Rochester Post Bulletin, VERBATIM: “Rochester Community and Technical College students used the school’s new Dental Simulation Lab for the first time on Wednesday, Sept. 24, marking the completion of an upgrade seven years in the making. Located just down the hall from RCTC’s Dental Hygiene Clinic, where dental assistant and hygienist students work with real patients, the simulation lab gives those students more lifelike learning opportunities, said Cherie Fritz, director of the dental hygiene program.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42aIY8i
AWARDS: Via MHA, VERBATIM: “Forty teams and individuals from across the state were recognized by the Minnesota Hospital Association (MHA) last week for their work to strengthen health care in Minnesota. Presented during MHA’s Annual Meeting, these awards honor efforts that advance sustainability, quality and safety, and innovation in the state’s hospital and health systems. MHA also recognized hospital volunteers, trustees, and state lawmakers for their dedication to supporting the health of Minnesota communities.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/42LGkWP
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
MANGOS: From George Mason University via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Mangos, often dismissed as too sugary, may hold hidden benefits for those at risk of diabetes. A George Mason University study found that daily mango eaters showed better blood sugar control and less body fat than those eating a lower-sugar snack. The results suggest that it’s not just sugar levels, but how the sugar is packaged in whole foods, that matters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4nmy9Ze
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