MAKING A DIFFERENCE: From UCare via Instagram, VERBATIM: “We want to thank all our dedicated #PeoplePowered team and members for serving our community last year. UCare is excited to connect with our partners and community together and is committed to making a difference.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4a9SBXG (SPONSORED: UCare)
POLL: From the latest Economist/YouGov poll covering a wide-range of issues, including health. VERBATIM: “Most Americans trust their own doctors for medical advice (80% trust ‘a lot’ or ‘somewhat’), but trust is lower for other potential sources of medical advice. 60% of Americans trust medical researchers for medical advice, 55% trust the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and 51% trust public health officials. In all three cases, Republicans are less likely than Democrats to say they trust those sources for medical advice; fewer than half of Republicans say they trust each source. Just 28% of Americans say they trust medical advice from pharmaceutical companies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/402n4SE
AI: Via Fierce Healthcare, VERBATIM: “Two-thirds of insured Americans say they would trust a health insurer’s artificial intelligence copilot to accurately inform them about a health plan’s benefits, a survey conducted by virtual care navigation platform Pager Health and market research firm The Harris Poll reveals. Of the respondents, 66% believe AI can correctly personalize digital healthcare with the goals and needs of the member. Even more respondents think AI can find doctors accepting new members and schedule appointments.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40gTxFg
INSURANCE: From Pager via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Pager Health, a connected health platform company serving more than 26 million members, today released findings from a new survey, conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Pager Health, that found most insured Americans want to build a stronger, more engaging relationship with their health plans.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gOyvoe
OB/GYN: From BD via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) (NYSE: BDX), a leading global medical technology company, today announced the results of a new survey, revealing that 72% of women in the United States have delayed having a gynecology visit, with many highlighting the need for greater convenience, comfort and ease for this critical cervical cancer screening process.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/427JxjX
PRIORITIES: From NOW via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “A new consumer survey commissioned by leading natural products manufacturer NOW (Suzy.com, October 2024) reveals that energy is set to dominate wellness priorities in 2025, with more than half of the respondents (56%) seeking supplements to boost their energy levels and keep up with their busy lives. Fitness support (37%), better sleep (36%), and weight management support (31%) also ranked high on the list as people are focused on achieving overall well-being.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j9qegg
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
TOMORROW: Via MDH, VERBATIM: “Quit Partner, the free smoking cessation program from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), is highlighting Friday, Jan. 10, as the second annual ‘Minnesota Quitter’s Day,’ an observance urging Minnesotans to keep quitting commercial tobacco.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/426Y2o4
UNITEDHEALTH: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “Seven UnitedHealth Group shareholders are calling on the health care conglomerate to produce a report on how often its policies lead to denied or delayed care, and the effects on patients and the economy. The proposal, which could go up for a vote by UnitedHealth’s investors at the company’s annual meeting later this year, comes as the company is under tremendous public scrutiny for tactics such as prior authorization and care denials. The killing of the CEO of UnitedHealth’s health insurance business in early December ignited a firestorm of anger — not against the alleged killer, but against health insurers like UnitedHealth who many blame for the industry’s dysfunction.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WcWYLD
MORE: Via Newsweek, VERBATIM: “A doctor has shared a shocking story of how UnitedHealthcare stopped a cancer surgery to ask if it was medically necessary in a new Instagram video. Elisabeth Potter, a doctor based in Austin, Texas, created a video on Instagram detailing her experience treating a cancer patient and what she said were the roadblocks UnitedHealthcare put up during a surgery procedure.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WbkgSa
MORE: From Dr. Potter via Instagram, the video. WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4gEoHgB
NOROVIRUS: Via The New York Times, VERBATIM: “There have been an unusually high number of norovirus outbreaks sickening people across the country, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were 91 suspected or confirmed norovirus outbreaks in the first week of December, the most recent data available. This is a higher number than the C.D.C. has recorded during the same week in recent years. It also exceeds the number of outbreaks recorded in early December in the years leading up to the Covid-19 pandemic.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4acNd66
WEIGHT LOSS: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “GLP-1 drugs mimic a hormone in the intestinal tract to balance the body’s blood sugar levels. And while GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound have been around for years to help patients with diabetes, they are growing in popularity to treat patients in need of significant weight loss. That’s because the drugs also send the brain a signal that reduces hunger. Due to their high list price in the United States — ranging from about $940 to $1,350 a month before insurance, rebates or discounts — many patients can’t afford them. But now that these drugs are in greater demand from both patients and doctors, state Medicaid programs are grappling with whether to cover them for weight loss, both for reasons of equity and to save on future health expenditures. Some researchers, however, question whether the drugs can help lower costs in the long run.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hrxMcP
STUDY: From Susan Murphy via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Each year, many women undergo surgery for pelvic organ prolapse, a condition where weakened muscles and tissues allow organs like the bladder or uterus to shift and press against the vaginal wall. This typically results in feelings of tissue bulging from the vagina, pelvic pressure or urinary issues. While the surgical procedure often alleviates symptoms, many women experience a common post-surgical complication: urinary tract infections. Now, researchers at Mayo Clinic, led by Marina Walther-Antonio, Ph.D., and John Occhino, M.D., have found a way to potentially predict who will develop these infections before surgery even begins.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j2OctH
OXIMETERS: From Victor Stefanescu via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “So-called ‘health and wellness’ pulse oximeters available online and at pharmacies — like the $50.99 CVS Health Pulse Oximeter, made by a subsidiary of Tianjin Chase Sun Pharmaceutical ― do not require extensive testing, despite criticism that inaccurate readings from such devices lead to health disparities for people of color. New, long-awaited government guidelines likely won’t change this. Draft guidance released Monday by the Food and Drug Administration strengthens pulse oximeter accuracy and testing recommendations for some devices, but stops short of outlining new rules regulating the most easily accessible and affordable devices for consumers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gMSdRr
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.-Elect Kari Rehauer
Rep.-Elect Wayne Johnson
Rep. Elect Julie Greene
Rep. Elect Keith Allen
Rep. Elect Peter Johnson
Follow on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.TheDailyAgenda.com/Podcasts. (SPONSORED: Minnesota Telecom Alliance)
ROBOTS: From University of Notre Dame via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Facing high employee turnover and an aging population, nursing homes have increasingly turned to robots to complete a variety of care tasks, but few researchers have explored how these technologies impact workers and the quality of care. A new study from a University of Notre Dame expert on the future of work finds that robot use is associated with increased employment and employee retention, improved productivity and a higher quality of care. The research has important implications for the workplace and the long-term care industry.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gOGDoN
ADDICTION: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “The Biden administration on Wednesday eliminated a major barrier for health providers seeking to offer contingency management, a form of addiction treatment increasingly used to help reduce the use of stimulants, particularly methamphetamine. Contingency management helps drug users curb their consumption by providing financial incentives in exchange for reduced substance use. While it exists in many forms, typical programs may include providing gift cards in exchange for negative urine drug tests.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hb6vLA
RFK JR: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Thousands of people were dying from COVID-19 every day. Americans were still being ordered to stay-at-home or mask in public. Millions of people were eager to line up for jabs of the newly-released COVID-19 vaccines. That’s the scene the nation’s top health official, Xavier Becerra, wants Americans to remember as he readies to leave the office, possibly to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy is a vehement critic of the vaccine that government officials — Becerra included — promoted to combat the deadly virus.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4a8wJMl
TESTS: Via Axios, VERBATIM: “The Biden administration's contentious plan to increase federal regulation of diagnostic medical tests could be swiftly dialed back after President-elect Trump is sworn in. The big picture: Lab-developed tests account for a global market worth more than $12 billion but haven't been subject to pre-market approvals or controls after they're made commercially available in the U.S. After years of debate, regulators last spring finalized a policy to treat the tests like medical devices, citing the risks to patients from potentially flawed or inaccurate tests.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4fXchzc
CWD: Form Mary Van Beusekom, MS via UofM CIDRAP, VERBATIM: “The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota today published a comprehensive, state-of-the-art report aimed at improving surveillance, research, and response to a potential chronic wasting disease (CWD) spillover from cervids such as deer to people or farm animals. The report, ‘Chronic Wasting Disease Spillover Preparedness and Response: Charting an Uncertain Future,’ identifies gaps in spillover preparedness and offers recommendations to support public and animal health agencies' ability to recognize and respond to a species jump.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4225f97
FUNDRAISER: From Tommy Wiita via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Actress Kristen Bell has donated over $20,000 to a fundraising effort to help a Minnesota man as he fights leukemia. Bell, star of TV shows Veronica Mars and The Good Place and movies including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Frozen, donated $24,182 to help Hastings resident Murilo Romão surpass the $50,000 goal for his GoFundMe campaign.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4j7hxmF
TV: Via Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, VERBATIM: “This January, FOX is introducing a new medical drama that promises to tug at your heartstrings and keep you on the edge of your seat. Doc brings a unique twist to the medical genre by telling the story of a brilliant doctor, Dr. Amy Larsen, who loses her memory and must fight her way back into her career at Westside Hospital in Minneapolis.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3DYpASy
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
IMMUNOTHERAPY: From University of Bath via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “An international team of UK and US scientists has discovered that the activity of macrophages -- a type of white blood cell that engulf pathogens and cancer cells -- can be used to predict whether or not a melanoma patient will respond to immunotherapy. Their findings, published in a landmark paper in JCO Oncology Advances, will help clinicians select treatments that are most likely to be effective for their patients.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aiMosr
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