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NUMBERS
FLU: The Minnesota Department of Health today reported 3,856 flu-related hospitalizations and 105 adult deaths as well as 69 long-term care outbreaks and 179 school outbreaks. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3Y10bib
FLORIDA: Via Florida Politics, VERBATIM: “A new statewide poll shows overwhelming, bipartisan support for maintaining Florida’s long-standing school-entry vaccine requirements, landing just days before lawmakers are set to debate sweeping changes to childhood immunization policy. The survey, conducted Jan. 5-8 by McLaughlin & Associates, found that 79% of likely 2026 voters support keeping Florida’s current vaccine requirements for schoolchildren, compared with 17% who oppose them. Support was broad and crossed political and demographic lines, including 71% of Republicans, 84% of voters with no party affiliation, and 78% of Hispanic voters.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NAvyxU
MEASLES: Via KFF Health News, VERBATIM: “After a year of ongoing measles outbreaks that have sickened more than 2,400 people, the United States is poised to lose its status as a measles-free country. However, the newly appointed principal deputy director at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ralph Abraham, said he was unbothered by the prospect at a briefing for journalists this week.” ABRAHAM: “It’s just the cost of doing business with our borders being somewhat porous for global and international travel,” Abraham said. “We have these communities that choose to be unvaccinated. That’s their personal freedom.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3YTluT7
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)
CONGRESSIONAL HEARING
THIS MORNING: UnitedHealth CEO Stephen Hemsley appeared with other healthcare executives at a House Energy & Commerce hearing on health insurance affordability.
Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-California) had this exchange with Hemsley, BARRAGÁN: “We’ve seen that less than one percent of claims are appealed but when they are, insurers reverse their decisions 44% of the time. That’s almost half. Why do your patients have to fight your company to get their claims covered?” HEMSLEY: “Representative, again, I appreciate the subject. It’s important. They shouldn’t have to fight. We should make this much easier and intuitive and use technology for that purpose. We have a number of initiatives in market right now…” BARRAGÁN: “Mr. Hemsley, the way you’re talking about this, is not sympathetic. It’s not compassionate. ‘I appreciate the topic.’ These are people’s lives.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/49BVQIR
MORE: You can watch Hemsley’s opening statement via YouTube, WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4qzTkIZ
REBATE: Via USA Today, VERBATIM: “UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley vowed to rebate Affordable Care Act profits to customers in 2026. The Minnesota-based insurance giant, which provides insurance coverage to about 1 million individuals enrolled in Obamacare plans in 30 states, will rebate 2026 profits to these customers, Hemsley said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/45mdGgn
RELATED: MSPBJ hosted a forum with Twin Cities healthcare executives to talk about rising medical costs, a shrinking workforce and other issues. READ: https://fluence-media.co/45qc5Go
U.S. & GLOBAL HEALTH
WHO: Via Stat, VERBATIM: “The United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization became official Thursday, formalizing a fissure between the Trump administration and the Geneva-based global health agency that dates back to the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the date on which the WHO was informed that President Trump had decreed that the U.S. would terminate its membership in the organization, something he tried to do during his first term in office.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3NAkVez
MPOX: Via ABC News, VERBATIM: “Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Columbia University’s division of Infectious siseases and the University of Texas Health Science Center looked at more than 300 adults who were either diagnosed with mpox between May 2022 and January 2023 or were at risk but never infected. They found that more than half -- 58% -- of those who were diagnosed with mpox during the 2022 outbreak still had lingering physical effects between 11 and 18 months later.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jTc9V9
TELEHEALTH: Via Fierce Healthcare, VERBATIM: “Medicare telehealth flexibilities and the Acute Hospital Care at Home (AHCaH) program are teed up to receive multiyear extensions from Congress in its recently released funding package for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The extensions would provide more certainty for the industry than it’s had since the end of 2022, when Congress extended Medicare telehealth and hospital-at-home for two years.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4bcIxjh
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)
HEALTH IN MINNESOTA
NARCAN: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “The emergency departments at Sanford Health in Bemidji and Bagley Sanford are now home to distribution boxes for naloxone, also known as Narcan. The boxes were installed by Sanford to work towards saving people’s lives after an opioid overdose.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3NXH8Dm
2,065 TRANSPLANTS: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic Transplant achieved the highest annual transplant volume in its history in 2025 by performing 2,065 solid organ transplants across its Arizona, Florida and Minnesota campuses, according to data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN).”
“The new record surpasses 2,006 transplanted solid organs in 2024 and 1,952 in 2023.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LIyKag
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)
THE LATEST RESEARCH
COLDS: Via Cell Press, VERBATIM: “Scientists found that nasal cells act as a first line of defense against the common cold, working together to block rhinovirus soon after infection. A fast antiviral response can stop the virus before symptoms appear. If that response is weakened or delayed, the virus spreads and causes inflammation and breathing problems. The study highlights why the body’s reaction matters more than the virus alone.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4k2EIzy
HEART DISEASE: Via ABC News, VERBATIM: “Fewer people are dying from heart disease, but the condition is still the leading cause of death in the U.S., a new report from the American Heart Association (AHA) finds. Although death rates from heart disease have dropped for the first time in the past five years, it still kills more Americans than any other condition, according to the report, published early Wednesday in the journal Circulation.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4r6N2jQ
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SUPER AGERS: Via Vanderbilt University, VERBATIM: “A new study reveals that super agers over 80 have a distinct genetic edge. They are much less likely to carry the gene most associated with Alzheimer’s risk, even when compared with other healthy seniors. Researchers also found higher levels of a protective gene variant in this group. Together, the findings help explain why some people age with remarkably youthful minds.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qzYODz
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