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POLLING
HEALTHCARE: Via Gallup, VERBATIM: “The inability to pay for healthcare in the U.S. has reached a new high, with more than one third of Americans (35%), or an estimated 91 million people, reporting that they could not access quality healthcare if they needed it today, according to the latest West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index. The Index has been tracking healthcare affordability and access in the U.S. since 2021.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4blAIaP
MORE: from the report:
FULL REPORT: https://fluence-media.co/49QccfV
GOP: From an Axios story about a push by President Trump for his party to take action on healthcare, QUOTE: “A growing strain of Republicans are pointing to jarring internal polling indicating that health care is unfriendly turf for the party. The GOP polling firm GrayHouse has shared polling with Senate Republicans that shows: Just 31% said Republicans do a better job than Democrats in handling health care. Only 38% said they approve of how Trump deals with the issue.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jyIBf9
DIET MEDS: Via Talker Research, VERBATIM: “‘Dry January’ is getting replaced by something a lot more modern: half of Americans say taking GLP-1 medications is the next big wellness trend. The poll of 2,000 U.S. adults found nearly a quarter (23%) currently use GLP-1s or have used them within the past five years. And when asked if they would rather ditch their GLP-1s or social media, over half (55%) said they would rather go without social media than the medications.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4psJ7wE
OVERWEIGHT: Via Gallup, VERBATIM: “As the calendar flips to a new year and Americans start to think about making resolutions, 41% describe themselves as being at least somewhat overweight, and 52% say they would like to lose weight. However, only half as many (26%) are actively trying to do so. Women continue to be more likely than men to say they are overweight and want to lose weight.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qcKVLt
AI: Via Fierce Healthcare, VERBATIM: “Offcall surveyed 1,000 physicians across 106 specialties in October to understand how they are using AI tools. Eighty-four percent of doctors say AI makes them better at their jobs, and 78% are optimistic about the future, believing it will make patients healthier, the confidential poll found. Only 3% of doctors say they never use AI.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Yz3TzI
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)
FLU
BIG PICTURE: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “Following the holidays, emergency rooms are seeing a huge spike in patients coming to receive care as the flu makes its way across the country, leaving the youngest and oldest populations at high risk. Nurse practitioner Christie Erickson said, ‘our emergency rooms, our hospitals, our urgent cares, our online and methods of care, they’re all getting busy, and we see it every year, but this year it’s kind of peaking just shortly after the holidays.’ The CDC shows Minnesota among at least a dozen other states in the very high category for number of influenza-like illnesses.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sxovWI
NUMBERS: New numbers out today from the Minnesota Department of Health show nearly 3,000 flu-related hospitalizations with 176 school outbreaks and 57 outbreaks in long-term care facilities. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Y10bib
FLU VACCINE: Via CBS News, VERBATIM: “It may be a ‘better thing’ if fewer children receive the flu vaccine, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told CBS News, after the Trump administration announced sweeping changes to childhood vaccine recommendations. This week, the Centers for Disease Control announced vaccines to fight respiratory syncytial virus, meningococcal disease, flu, and COVID are now recommended only for children at high risk of serious illness or after consultation between doctors and parents, as a part of the CDC’s scaling back of key childhood vaccination recommendations. Until recently, the CDC recommended that everyone 6 months and older get the annual flu vaccine.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3Ni8HXK
VACCINE GUIDANCE: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) will now align all of its immunization guidance with professional medical association recommendations rather than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The move comes after federal officials overhauled the childhood immunization schedule earlier this week to reduce the number of routinely recommended vaccines.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qBl4fO
RESEARCH & TECH
CANCER: Via The Lancet, VERBATIM: “Global cancer cases have surged dramatically, doubling since 1990 and reaching 18.5 million new diagnoses in 2023. Deaths have also climbed to over 10 million a year, with the steepest increases hitting low- and middle-income countries. Without urgent action, researchers project more than 30 million new cases annually by 2050. Alarmingly, around four in ten cancer deaths are tied to preventable risks such as smoking, poor diet, and high blood sugar.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jGLPxh
AI GUIDANCE: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic researchers have developed and evaluated MedEduChat, an electronic health record (EHR) that works with a large language model to provide accurate, patient-specific prostate cancer education. The findings are published in Nature Portfolio Digital Medicine and highlight a new approach to delivering timely, individualized guidance for people navigating a prostate cancer diagnosis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qo0RdG
MORE AI: Via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “OpenAI is introducing a new feature in ChatGPT that will allow users to analyze medical test results, prepare for doctors appointments and seek guidance on diets and workout routines — marking the company’s biggest push yet into the health care sector. ChatGPT Health, announced Wednesday, is intended to help provide useful health and fitness information but stop short of making formal diagnoses.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Z2LkUF
SALUDA: Via Bloomington-based Saluda, VERBATIM: “Saluda Medical, Inc. (ASX:SLD), a commercial-stage medical device company focused on developing treatments for chronic neurological conditions using its novel closed-loop neuromodulation platform, announced that, as expected, its next-generation EVA Sensing Technology has now received CE certification for commercialization in Europe with recognition of this approval in Australia. This follows FDA approval of EVA in December 2024.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Nk1RB0
INTENT: Via Rochester-based Intent, VERBATIM: “INTENT Biologics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class exosome-based biologic therapies for serious conditions with significant unmet medical need, announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for PEP Biologic for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) under IND 019567.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bprpqp
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)
THE COST OF HEALTHCARE
HOUSE VOTE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Overpowering Speaker Mike Johnson, a bipartisan coalition in the House voted Wednesday to push forward a measure that would revive an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowered health insurance costs for roughly 22 million people, but that had expired last month. The tally of 221-205 was a key test before passage of the bill, which is expected Thursday. And it came about because four GOP centrist lawmakers joined with Democrats in signing a so-called discharge petition to force the vote.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3Lx6Uh3
MORE: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “The bill is not expected to pass in the Senate, but a bipartisan group of senators is working on a compromise bill that would still extend subsidies, Politico reported. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said the bill text could be released as early as Monday.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qg0guO
MORE: PBS is tracking the issue today in the House. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/49ucybR
THE FOOD PYRAMID
NEW GUIDELINES: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “In a striking reversal of past nutrition guidance, the Trump administration released new dietary guidelines on Wednesday that flip the food pyramid on its head, putting steak, cheese and whole milk near the top. The new guidelines urge Americans to prioritize protein and avoid the sugary, processed foods that health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said are poisonous to health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3N9m24J
WHO: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “A group of researchers that formed the scientific basis of new dietary guidelines included people with financial ties to the beef and dairy industries, as well as food companies and other groups.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pwJ9nh
ALCOHOL: Via GMA, VERBATIM: “The new guidelines, which are updated every five years, provide language on alcohol moderation rather than specific drink limits, as have been included in the past. The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans instruct Americans to ‘limit alcoholic beverages,’ a change from previous guidance that suggested U.S. adults ages 21 and over limit consumption to two drinks or fewer per day for men and one drink or less per day for women.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jFBJwM
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)
SMOKING
TOMORROW: Via Northern News Now, VERBATIM: “‘Quitter’s day’ falls on the second Friday of January, referring to those who have failed their New Year’s resolutions but the Minnesota Department of Health is changing the day into something positive. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz proclaimed Jan. 9 as ‘Minnesota Quitter’s Day,’ urging Minnesotans to eliminate the stigma associated with making multiple attempts to quit using tobacco products.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4sxBPdL
MORE: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “Quit Partner has launched a new campaign, ‘Easier Said Than Done,’ recognizing the challenges of quitting. Most people make eight to 10 quit attempts before quitting permanently. However, with Quit Partner’s free services, Minnesotans are twice as likely to successfully quit.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aLOWBJ
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
110 YEARS OLD: From Genomic Press via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Scientists are uncovering why Brazil may be one of the most important yet underused resources for studying extreme longevity. Its highly diverse population harbors millions of genetic variants missing from standard datasets, including rare changes linked to immune strength and cellular maintenance. Brazilian supercentenarians often remain mentally sharp, survive serious infections, and come from families where multiple members live past 100. Together, they reveal aging not as inevitable decline, but as a form of biological resilience.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49K0LXY
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