FREE CLINIC: From UCare via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Please join us this Thursday for Partners in Prevention. This free health clinic in Hallie Q. Brown Community Center is open to the public and no registration is required. Visit us every Thursday until April 24th to access free health information and services.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4hCawci (SPONSORED: UCare)
POLL: Via University of Michigan, VERBATIM: “In August 2024 the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging asked a national sample of adults age 50 and older about their experiences with work, how work impacts their health and well-being, and their motivations for and barriers to working. Overall, 42% of people age 50 and older reported they are currently working (63% age 50–64 and 18% age 65+). A similar percentage (43%) said they are retired (13% age 50–64 and 78% age 65+), and 15% were not working for another reason (24% age 50–64 and 5% age 65+). Among adults age 50 and older who work, 78% work full-time and 22% work part-time. The majority (83%) work for an employer other than themselves, while 17% are self-employed.”
SEE: https://fluence-media.co/3EDyRjq
DRINKING: Via Morning Consult, from surveys dating back to 2021, VERBATIM: “Fewer Americans are drinking alcohol: The share of adults who say they drink has been declining, driven by various factors from health concerns to societal shifts and lifestyle considerations. Drinking is inherently social: Drinkers most often consume with others and tend to choose their beverages based on specific occasions. The beer industry has a Gen Z problem: While beer has traditionally appealed to younger drinkers, Gen Zers are eschewing it in favor of other options like hard seltzers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hXkLYx
WOMEN: Via Ipsos, VERBATIM: “A new Ipsos poll commissioned by the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention found that more than two in five women experienced some form of barrier when attempting to access preventative healthcare in the past year. The poll also explores women’s experiences and perceptions of preventive healthcare, where and how women receive their health information, and existing disparities in women’s healthcare.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jQ4CG2
Check out all the episodes of Sunday Take on 830 WCCO. CLICK: https://fluence-media.co/3KsuDrZ
RFK JR: Via NPR, VERBATIM: “Despite millions of dollars spent by groups opposed to his nomination, the Senate voted to install Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services. Kennedy faced opposition from the left for his decades of espousing conspiracy theories on vaccines and from the right for his past support of abortion rights. For several weeks, it was uncertain whether he had enough senators backing him to get through. Yesterday, Democratic senators made speeches on the floor past midnight in protest. But on Thursday morning, he had the votes to be confirmed. The vote was 52 to 48. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the former Republican majority leader and a polio survivor, was the sole Republican joining Democrats to vote against Kennedy.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40WJwgG
MORE: Via CNN, how each Senator voted, including Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith who both voted “no.” SEE: https://fluence-media.co/4hAhLS3
MORE: Via Politico, VERBATIM: “From drugmakers to doctors’ organizations, groups thought to have the clout to steer policy and funding in Washington because they enjoyed bipartisan support and huge lobbying budgets have remained silent about Kennedy. They haven’t spoken up even though he has accused them of fraud and conspiracy, and promised to hold them accountable. That’s not because they aren’t worried, but because they didn’t think they could stop him — or think the cost of speaking out would be too steep, five people representing health groups, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said. By staying mum, they hope to limit the fallout if Kennedy follows through on his plans to strip the industry to the studs.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40VYJP8
CUTS: Via HuffPost, VERBATIM: “House Republicans on Wednesday unveiled a broad outline of their plans for the federal budget, using cuts to social programs to help pay for trillions of dollars in tax cuts. The budget outline indicates Republicans are planning $4.5 trillion in tax cuts over ten years. Spending cuts would offset part of that cost, but only part, so that meeting the blueprint’s goals would add trillions of dollars to the country’s deficit. The document doesn’t specify exactly what programs to cut. But analysts say the clear implication is that Republicans are looking for deep reductions in programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, both of which serve low-income Americans, given the GOP ruling out cuts to Medicare or Social Security.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jZ4l3F
FUNDING: From Madeline Cisneros via MplsStPaul, VERBATIM: “The nonprofit organization Open Arms announced it is facing financial challenges due to federal and state funding issues. The hunger-relief organization, which works to provide meals to critically ill Minnesotans and their families, was given notice about a significant cut to its Ryan White funding beginning this April, ‘amounting to more than $650,000 in reductions over the next year—due to a $20 million deficit in funding at the state level.’” QUOTE: “Compounding this crisis is a federal funding situation that is like nothing we have ever seen,” said Open Arms CEO Leah Hebert Welles in a statement on Tuesday. “What began as a total funding freeze ordered by the Trump administration, disrupting essential and expected payments on our existing contracts, has now created fear and uncertainty for our future.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4aVm08l
ALS: From The ALS Association via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “We are deeply alarmed by proposed cuts to research that will deal a devastating blow to the fight against ALS. Drastic changes to research funding will hinder progress toward turning ALS from fatal to livable. Reducing indirect cost funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will cripple the ability of research institutions to sustain the infrastructure, ensure competitiveness, and grow the workforce necessary for groundbreaking discoveries. NIH and other government agencies are the largest funders of ALS research with more than $200M invested per year. These actions could set ALS research back decades and undermine American leadership.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40UC85j
MENTAL HEALTH: From Laura Oakes via WCCO-Radio, VERBATIM: “Minnesota lawmakers are digging in to what experts are calling a teen mental health crisis. The Senate Education Policy Committee heard from social workers and others on what needs to happen in order for schools to better address student's mental health challenges. DFL Senator Erin Maye Quade (Dakota County) says the problem goes beyond what schools can do given the increases in suicidal ideation among young people.” LISTEN: https://fluence-media.co/3WYRDYS
MERGER: From Dan Niepow via Twin Cities Business, VERBATIM: “Fairview Health Services leaders on Wednesday said they ‘do not see demonstrable improvements for our patients and employees’ under a new partnership proposal put forward by the University of Minnesota and Duluth-based Essentia. In a letter sent to employees Wednesday, Fairview president and CEO James Hereford and chair John Heinmiller made it clear that they rejected the proposal that would merge the clinical operations of their organization, Essentia, and U of M.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/40Wg8qY
UNITEDHEALTH: Via Bloomberg Law, VERBATIM: “UnitedHealth Group Inc. has hired a prominent defamation law firm to counter what it sees as inaccurate and irresponsible social media posts about the company’s practices. Clare Locke, an Alexandria, Virginia-based boutique law firm, is working for UnitedHealth, the company confirmed. A doctor ‘is using her social media following to perpetuate inaccuracies, which is irresponsible, unethical and dangerous,’ UnitedHeath said in a statement. The hiring shows the biggest US health insurer is pushing back against public statements it views as false following the high-profile death of an executive. Clare Locke is best known for representing Dominion Voting Systems Inc. in a landmark $787.5 million defamation settlement with Fox Corp.'s Fox News.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3CPsvNk
SETTLEMENT: From Tommy Wiita via Bring Me The News, VERBATIM: “Eden Prairie-based UnitedHealth Group has agreed to pay $20.25 million to settle a lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Labor, after it was found to have wrongly denied thousands of medical claims via its third-party administrator. The claims were denied by a division of the company, UMR, according to the lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor. The company's role is to administer health plans for large employers.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3QiMhnK
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)
NEXT MONTH: From Pa Nyia Vang via Hmong Times, VERBATIM: “United Hmong with Disabilities (UHD) is excited to announce the 2025 National Hmong Disability Conference, set to take place virtually on March 1, 2025. The conference, themed ‘Building for Tomorrow at the Intersection of Hmong Culture & Disability’, will provide a platform for Hmong individuals with disabilities, their families, and allies to connect, share experiences, and advocate for a more inclusive future. This year’s conference will focus on fostering understanding, breaking cultural stigmas, and advancing accessibility within the Hmong community and beyond.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3EAvqtW
CHILD CARE: Via DHS, VERBATIM: “The Minnesota Department of Human Services is seeking another round of input on changes to draft licensing standards for family child care and child care centers. On Thursday, the state released a second draft of revised licensing standards that incorporates extensive community input gathered over summer 2024. The effort – in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families – is part of the ongoing Child Care Regulation Modernization Project.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3X0lhwG
PUBLIC HEALTH: From MDH via X, VERBATIM: “Across Minnesota, communities face many public health challenges, from substance use and drug overdose to human trafficking. Learning how these complex issues are connected can teach us how to solve them.” WATCH: https://fluence-media.co/3WZJvr6
FLU: Via Fortune, VERBATIM: “If you haven’t caught the flu this season, perhaps you know someone who has, or are concerned about the virus infiltrating your household. We are, by at least one measure, in the midst of the nation’s worst flu season in recent decades. At least 24 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations, and 13,000 influenza-linked deaths—including 57 children—have plagued the U.S. this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Flu-related emergency department visits necessitated the CDC’s most severe ‘very high’ ranking as of Feb. 7, as did influenza virus activity in national wastewater samples. What’s more, the percentage of outpatient and emergency department visits concerning patients with influenza-like illness (ILI) hit a season high of 7.8% the week ended Feb. 1, greater than any other week since at least the 1997–98 flu season.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jUSRhH
MORE: Via MDH, the latest stats on flu in Minnesota where 5,641 have been hospitalized as of week 6 of the season. SEE: https://fluence-media.co/410wm24
PATCH: From Victor Stefanescu via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “A Minnesota company’s electrified men’s sexual health patch — once the victim of late night host Jimmy Kimmel’s jokes — is coming to consumers. Morari Medical, based in Maple Grove, raised millions of dollars ahead of receiving Food and Drug Administration clearance Tuesday. The device — called ‘MOR’ — is a drug- and chemical-free approach to delaying ejaculation using the body’s electrical signals, founder and chief executive Jeff Bennett said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4jX3nVC
From morning take…
NIH: via Star Tribune, VERBATIM: “University of Minnesota researchers and state lawmakers denounced Wednesday what they say are detrimental cuts to research facilities receiving National Institutes of Health funding announced last week by the Trump Administration. The cuts, announced last Friday, would limit ‘indirect’ support by the National Institutes of Health to academic institutions as well as direct funding of research. State lawmakers estimated losses to the U could amount to $150 million. … DFL Rep. Mohamud Noor [said] ‘We are going to be left behind as a nation, as a state.’” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4gCXTww
MORE: via a Rep. Kelly Morrison press release, VERBATIM: “Today, U.S. Representative Kelly Morrison (MN-03) joined [others] in urging National Institutes of Health (NIH) Acting Director Matthew Memoli to restore the Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) website to its full operating capacity. At the direction of the Trump-Vance Administration, the NIH has drastically removed information and guidance off of the website for the Office of Research on Women’s Health.” MORRISON: “Women’s health research is already underfunded and under-studied, and cutting access to information only makes it worse.” LETTER: https://fluence-media.co/4aWDcue
ABORTION: via House Session Daily, VERBATIM: “Personal and powerful testimony accompanied [the Born Alive Act]. … The House Health Finance and Policy Committee voted 11-10 along party lines Wednesday to send HF24 to the House Floor. The bill would mandate doctors and nurses act to preserve the life and health of infants born alive as the result of a [late-term] abortion. … Rep. Kristin Bahner (DFL-Maple Grove) said bill supporters don’t understand the reality of the families who would be impacted. She emotionally described a scenario in her family of excitedly planning for their baby until they received a diagnosis that the baby would not survive until term. They chose to deliver the baby to let him know he was loved, to look in his eyes, to hold him before he died. Requiring doctors and nurses to provide life-saving care would rob families of those few moments, she said.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hXzOl9
RESPONSE: via Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn (D-Eden Prairie), STATEMENT: “This bill, just like the GOP amendment proposed with this language last year, is built on the false notion that people wait until late in pregnancy to terminate unwanted pregnancies. We know this is far from the truth, but Republicans refuse to cease this dangerous narrative. … Keep the government out of reproductive healthcare decisions. Period.”
Sign up for morning take…
VR: From Terri Malloy via Mayo Clinic, VERBATIM: “Heart surgery is a serious and invasive medical procedure, and that can be intimidating for a patient. A new study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that virtual reality (VR) can be an effective tool to reduce preoperative anxiety in older patients undergoing their first open-heart surgery. While much of the research to date using VR involved younger patient populations, these research findings suggest that immersive VR was effective and well tolerated in older patients.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/3X2jYh3
FORUM: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
AI: From USC via Science Daily, VERBATIM: “A groundbreaking study led by USC Assistant Professor of Computer Science Ruishan Liu has uncovered how specific genetic mutations influence cancer treatment outcomes -- insights that could help doctors tailor treatments more effectively. The largest study of its kind, the research analyzed data for more than 78,000 cancer patients across 20 cancer types. Patients received immunotherapies, chemotherapies and targeted therapies.” READ: https://fluence-media.co/4hUkCVD
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