Note: Technical issues prevented sending this newsletter when originally scheduled. With all the Fluence newsletters scheduled to go out on Friday, we decided it best to hold off on this one until today so as not to overwhlem your inbox. Thank you for your patience.
COMMUNITY EFFORT: From Ezy Urgent Care Clinic via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Huge gratitude to our community partners for an unforgettable event! M Health Fairview, Hmong Health Care Professionals Coalition and Hmong Village your partnership means the world! Vanguard Mental Health & Wellness Clinic, LLC, Acupuncture & Tea, Lovely Spa MN, and Proactive Physical Therapy thank you for your commitment and time to promote and educate about wellness. And thank you to UCare, BF Yang Trading, LLC, Shoreview, Elite Care Chiropractic P.A., Select Medical - Nova Care Rehabilitation, Kashia Adult Day Care, for their generous donations! What a great turn out it was and we are proud to be a part of this community.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/43wgqqt (SPONSORED: UCare)
All Fluence tipsheets are now available to read and share online at our website, The Daily Agenda:
POLLING
POT/BOOZE: Via Cannabis Science and Technology, VERBATIM: “How does the use of cannabis and alcohol affect the mental health of college students? Researchers in a recently published study noted the need for more studies on the relationship between substance use in college students and depression, anxiety, and stress among this population. This cross-sectional survey study examined simultaneous cannabis and alcohol (SCA) use specifically and mental health outcomes. Additionally, the researchers examined the effects of SCA use among male and female students, hypothesizing the potential of sex-related outcomes. Studies on these topics could help guide clinical interventions for young adults and for individuals seeking mental health treatment.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hWlOcl
VIDEO GAMES: Via Gallup, VERBATIM: “Daily video game players are the least likely to be ‘thriving,’ according to Gallup’s Life Evaluation Index, at 45%, compared with 55% of adults who very rarely or never play video games.”
“The overall U.S. thriving rate is 51%, meaning frequent gamers are below average on this dimension, while infrequent players are above average.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LBM3c8
DOCS: Via SmartBrief, a poll of doctors covering topics including accelerated medical school programs, vaccine guidance, and GLP-1 drugs. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/47EI4UN
MEDICAID: Via KFF, VERBATIM: “As states completed the ‘unwinding’ of pandemic-era continuous coverage, Medicaid enrollment fell 7.6% in FY 2025 and is expected to be largely flat in FY 2026, according to KFF’s 25th annual Medicaid Budget Survey. At the same time, total Medicaid spending grew by 8.6% in FY 2025 and is expected to grow by 7.9% in FY 2026. States report that provider rate increases, greater enrollee health care needs, and increasing costs for long-term care, pharmacy benefits, and behavioral health services are the most significant drivers of increased costs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hUSaEi
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
IN COURT…
LAWSUIT: The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports on what’s described as a “massive legal action” – hundreds of plaintiffs accuse health insurance companies, including Minnesota-based UnitedHealth, of running a price-fixing organization – an estimated 450 health care providers including physician groups and hospitals are the plaintiffs. READ: https://fluence-media.co/4qXjAxD
MEDICAID: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Attorneys representing Planned Parenthood argued Wednesday that Congress cannot strip the nation’s largest abortion provider of its Medicaid funding with the hope that doing so may result in fewer abortions . . . The arguments are the latest development in a legal battle over a spending law passed by Congress — and then signed into law by President Donald Trump in July — that ended Medicaid reimbursements for Planned Parenthood.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4odWX5D
SURMODICS: Via MedTech Dive, VERBATIM: “A judge has denied the Federal Trade Commission’s request to block the $627 million takeover of [Eden Prairie-based] Surmodics by the private equity company GTCR, Surmodics said Monday. The ruling removes one barrier to the deal. The acquisition remains subject to a restraining order that expires on Nov. 17 and to closing conditions, according to the announcement. Surmodics CEO Gary Maharaj said in a statement that the ruling ‘is a significant step toward being able to complete the merger.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43sz0jj
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)
HEALTH WORKFORCE
BRAINERD: Via Lakeland PBS, VERBATIM: “Essentia Health officials say they have reached a tentative agreement with the Minnesota Nurses Association on a three-year contract covering nearly 300 nurses at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Brainerd.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4oAOcTT
(DISCLOSURE: Essentia is a Fluence sponsor)
NEXTGEN: Via University of Minnesota, VERBATIM: “For Howard Quinlan, a visit to the School of Dentistry did more than keep his teeth clean. It saved his life. The visit started out like any other. Ellie Fekrazad (DDS, ’25) started her typical assessment on Quinlan. Fekrazad is in the Blue Group in Comprehensive Care Clinics, overseen by Carmen Real, clinical associate professor. Faculty throughout the clinics emphasize the importance of holistic patient care, but this is especially important to Real.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/49iaDIX
GENDER CARE: Via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “U.S. Catholic bishops voted Wednesday to make official a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender patients at Catholic hospitals. The step formalizes a yearslong process for the U.S. church to address transgender health care. From a Baltimore hotel ballroom, the bishops overwhelmingly approved revisions to their ethical and religious directives that guide the nation’s thousands of Catholic health care institutions and providers. More than one in seven patients in the U.S. are treated each day at Catholic hospitals, according to the Catholic Health Association.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3XujmAo
FLU: Via NBC News, VERBATIM: “As flu season gets underway, global health experts are increasingly worried about a new strain of the virus that popped up in June — four months after the makeup of this year’s flu shots had been decided. The new strain, a version of H3N2, is causing outbreaks in Canada and the U.K., where health officials are warning about the early wave that’s sending people to the hospital.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/4hZ4ZxD
SHUTDOWN
THE DEAL: From a story recapping Wednesday’s vote to end the government shutdown with comments from Minnesota’s congressional delegation, via MPR, VERBATIM: “It’s unclear whether the parties will find any common ground on health care before the December vote in the Senate. [House Speaker Mike Johnson] has said he will not commit to bringing it up in his chamber. Some Republicans have said they are open to extending the COVID-19 pandemic-era tax credits as premiums will soar for millions of people, but they also want new limits on who can receive the subsidies. Some argue that the tax dollars for the plans should be routed through individuals rather than go directly to insurance companies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WVekNk
HEMP: Via The Hill, VERBATIM: “Popular THC-infused drinks and edibles may disappear from store shelves in the next year as Congress is on the verge of passing a ban on nearly all hemp-derived THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, products. Tucked into the Senate-passed government funding bill is a provision that would recriminalize many of the intoxicating hemp-derived products that were legalized by the 2018 farm bill.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3WYfIP8
RURAL: Via Stateline, VERBATIM: “In their competition for rural health care dollars from a new federal fund, states are seeking money to bolster emergency services, address chronic diseases, and recruit and train more doctors and nurses. All 50 states submitted their applications to the federal government last week to get shares of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program. Congress created the program in response to concern from rural health care providers — as well as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle — about the effects of Medicaid cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that President Donald Trump signed this summer.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4oPTXx2
INCARCERATED: Via Daily Yonder, VERBATIM: “Nearly 783,200 of the total 1.3 million people who are incarcerated in this country are locked up in rural counties, areas that are more likely to face hospital closures, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and advocacy organization working to expose the harm of mass incarceration. The Trump administration’s changes to Medicaid in the 2025 budget reconciliation bill will make it harder for rural hospitals to stay financially afloat. For those in rural jails and prisons, the closure of rural hospitals is likely to worsen mortality rates. Incarcerated people already face higher mortality rates than the general population, due in part to lack of access to basic medical care.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4pd6ZVq
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 LATEST RESEARCH…
TOBACCO: From University of Georgia via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “Smoking, vaping, or using both products significantly increases the likelihood of developing prediabetes and diabetes, and the risk is even higher among Hispanic, Black, and low-income groups. Researchers found that vaping alone raises prediabetes risk, while combining cigarettes and e-cigarettes drives those odds up dramatically.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4i4CXRs
ALZHEIMER’S: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Mayo Clinic researchers have developed a new tool that can estimate a person’s risk of developing memory and thinking problems associated with Alzheimer’s disease years before symptoms appear. The research, published in The Lancet Neurology, builds on decades of data from the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging — one of the world’s most comprehensive population-based studies of brain health.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4p8JCME
ANXIETY: Via University of Utah, VERBATIM: “Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health conditions in America, affecting about one in five people nationwide. But much remains unknown about the roots of anxiety in the brain. Now, research at the University of Utah has identified two surprising groups of brain cells in mice that act as ‘accelerators’ and ‘brakes’ for anxiety.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3LXZcfA
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)
PROVIDER UPDATES…
ALLINA: Via Allina, VERBATIM: “Allina Health is pleased to announce that Ram Sankaraneni, MD, FAES, FAAN, FANA, has been named president of the Allina Health Neuroscience, Spine and Pain Institute. Dr. Sankaraneni has served as interim president for nearly a year.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/43vxFbw
WOMEN’S HEALTH: Via news release from St. Paul-based Herself Health, VERBATIM: “Herself Health, the leading healthcare company providing comprehensive primary in-person and virtual care to women as they age and mature, and Midi Health, a virtual clinic dedicated to women navigating midlife, announced a new collaboration today to deliver coordinated care for women through a hybrid model that combines virtual services with in-person primary care clinics across the Twin Cities. The strategic relationship will bring a continuum of care that addresses the needs of midlife and older women, ensuring that they receive the support they need at every stage.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3JY3sv4
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
CHENEY: Via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Richard B. ‘Dick’ Cheney, former Mayo Clinic trustee, passed away on Nov. 3 at age 84. The former vice president’s leadership and support helped advance Mayo Clinic’s mission of patient care, education and research. Cheney joined Mayo Clinic’s Board of Trustees in 1998, bringing both political and business acumen to the role. As a trustee, he contributed extensive expertise to the board’s Nominating, Audit and Development committees.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/47WXeDR
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