STATEFAIR: From UCare via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Are you ready? The Great Minnesota Get-together begins one month from today - Aug. 22! Get there early to pick up your iconic UCare State Fair bag in the Health Fair 11 bldg.” SEE: http://bit.ly/2Ybxn5d (SPONSORED: UCare)
SIGNUP: Now signing up for Fluence tip sheets is easy and can be found at one site, www.fluence-newsletters.com - VISIT: http://bit.ly/2019FluenceTipSheets
POLL: From Jennifer De Pinto and Anthony Salvanto via CBS News, VERBATIM: “Health care remains a dominant — perhaps the dominant — issue in the 2020 Democratic primaries. Nearly nine in 10 Democrats in the early states through Super Tuesday call it ‘very important,’ outranking any other issue we asked about in the latest CBS News Battleground Tracker poll, and the split over what to do about it marks ideological divisions within the party that could shape the contest. Out-of-pocket costs are the top concern regarding health care (36%), ahead of access to health care (21%) and coverage of pre-existing conditions (21%). More than half of Democrats in these states favor the creation of a ‘Medicare for All’-type health care system and largely support a tax on the wealthy to help fund it . . . Liberal Democrats — particularly those who identify as very liberal — favor Medicare for All, but fewer than half of moderate and conservative Democrats do.” WATCH: https://cbsn.ws/2Ykgk4L
MORE: Via YouGov, the full poll results. SEE: http://bit.ly/2YkPCJs
HANDSFREE: Megan Goeltz, a mother and certified nursing assistant, was at a stop sign in February 2016 when she was hit and killed by a driver, who her family says was distracted by a cell phone. WATCH: http://bit.ly/2Gjshxv (SPONSORED: Department of Public Safety)
SNAP: Via U.S. Department of Agriculture, VERBATIM: “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today proposed closing a loophole that allows states to make participants receiving minimal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits automatically eligible to participate in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The proposed rule published today in the Federal Register would limit SNAP/TANF automatic eligibility to households that receive substantial, ongoing TANF-funded benefits aimed at helping families move towards self-sufficiency. The proposed rule would fix a loophole that has expanded SNAP recipients in some states to include people who receive assistance when they clearly don’t need it. In fact, the depth of this specific flexibility has become so egregious that a millionaire living in Minnesota successfully enrolled in the program simply to highlight the waste of taxpayer money. This proposal gives USDA the ability to save billions of dollars, ensuring nutrition assistance programs are delivered with consistency and integrity to those most in need.” READ: http://bit.ly/2YlKJji
MORE: From Ellyn Ferguson via Roll Call, VERBATIM: “He cited the case of a Minnesota millionaire who told state legislators in 2018 that he and his wife had received $6,000 in food stamp benefits over 19 months under categorical eligibility. Rob Undersander testified before a state legislative panel that he had qualified for SNAP because his retirement income was low and his assets of $1 million were not considered.” READ: http://bit.ly/2Ye8vcO
MORE: Reuters’ Tom Polansek and Humeyra Pamuk report the change “would cut about 3.1 million people from the program.” READ: https://reut.rs/2YcEs5a
5,000+: Over 5,000 people have downloaded the Fluence Forum, an hour-long deep dive a critical issue of our community. The topic of the first one was the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement. Joined by labor, business and Native community leaders we discussed the impact the $2.6 billion project will have on Minnesota. You can listen to the forum here. LISTEN: http://bit.ly/2PIjBUR
NEXT: If you’re interested in having the Fluence Forum host a topic, please contact Blois Olson at bloisolson@gmail.com
SIDEWALKS: From Anne Polta via West Central Tribune, VERBATIM: “A unique form of art is popping up on sidewalks at public locations around Willmar this summer to promote messages about health equity. The project by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota uses Rainworks, which is activated by rain to reveal messages when wet . . . The messages are designed to promote awareness and stimulate conversation about the everyday barriers that have an impact on health.” READ/PHOTO: http://bit.ly/2YbDm9W
DEATHS: From Betsy McKay via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Death rates are rising for young and middle-aged U.S. adults, and the outcomes for whites, blacks and Hispanics are diverging, according to a new government analysis. The report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to be published Tuesday, adds new detail to a grim picture of worsening health trends across the nation, as the opioid epidemic and stalled progress against heart disease have dragged down life expectancy. U.S. Hispanics have long experienced lower death rates than blacks or whites. But the drug-overdose epidemic is affecting the longevity of younger Hispanics, according to the report and experts on health in the U.S. Hispanic population.” READ: https://on.wsj.com/2Ygwg8k
OPIOIDS: From Felicia Fonseca via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “U.S. government hospitals put Native American patients at increased risk for opioid abuse and overdoses, failing to follow their own protocols for prescribing and dispensing the drugs, according to a federal audit made public Monday. The report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General does not say whether patients suffered because of the hospitals' practices. But all five Indian Health Service hospitals that were reviewed had patients who were given opioids in amounts exceeding federal guidelines, the report said . . . The audit covered five of the 25 hospitals directly run by the Indian Health Service: the Phoenix Indian Medical Center in Phoenix; Northern Navajo Medical Center on the Navajo Nation in Shiprock, New Mexico; the Lawton Indian Hospital in Lawton, Oklahoma; the Cass Lake Indian Hospital on the Leech Lake reservation in Cass Lake, Minnesota; and the Fort Yates Hospital on the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in Fort Yates, North Dakota.” READ: https://abcn.ws/2YlFmk2
GRANT: Via January, 2018 news release from UCare, VERBATIM: “A grant from UCare will enable Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) to embed licensed drug and alcohol counselors in the Emergency Department to help assess UCare members for treatment with a highly effective addiction medication, and to connect these patients to community providers for ongoing medication treatment. These initiatives will benefit the community by providing cost-effective and research-based early medical response and long-term social support services to help opioid users conquer their addictions.” READ: http://bit.ly/2EsowUd (SPONSORED: UCare)
$32BILLION: From Jacqueline Renfrow via Fierce Healthcare, VERBATIM: “One of the biggest contributors to the rising costs of healthcare is avoidable visits to hospital emergency departments (EDs). In fact, up to two-thirds of the annual 27 million ED visits by privately insured people in the U.S. are avoidable, according to a new brief from UnitedHealth Group. The average costs of treating these conditions in an ED is $2,032, which is 12 times higher than the $167 it would cost in a physician’s office. The cost is even 10 times higher than visiting urgent care—on average $193. Overall, UnitedHealth Group says the healthcare system could save $32 billion a year by diverting these ED visits to primary care or urgent care.” READ: http://bit.ly/2YkmcLl
SURPRISEBILLS: From John Lundy via Duluth News Tribune, VERBATIM: “A new law going into effect this summer is an attempt to remove some of the surprise factor from medical bills in Minnesota. But a longtime consumer advocate in Duluth believes it will have a minimal effect on the overall problem of high healthcare costs. ‘The idea that price transparency can really empower consumers … and promote competition is a pipe dream,’ said Buddy Robinson, director of the Minnesota Citizens Federation Northeast. Authored by state Sen. Rich Draheim, R-Madison Lake, the financial fee disclosure passed unanimously in both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz. When it takes effect on Aug. 1, it will require clinics that are part of a larger hospital or health system — the vast majority of clinics in Duluth and in Minnesota — to post a notice on their premises and websites that the patient may receive a separate charge for the facility, and that it could mean higher out-of-pocket costs.” READ: http://bit.ly/2Yb7Ngz
DRUGPRICES: From Peter Sullivan via The Hill, VERBATIM: “A top aide to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Monday that House Democrats will unveil their long-awaited bill to lower drug prices in September. Wendell Primus, Pelosi's top health care adviser, said House leadership is almost ready to release the proposal but is opting to wait and not leave drug companies the opportunity to attack the bill during the Congressional recess next month. ‘Pharma will argue very hard against drug negotiation of the kind we're talking about,’ Primus said at an event hosted by the Brookings Institution in Washington. The measure will allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, which has for years been a top goal for Democrats. The prices that are negotiated will apply to private insurers as well, bringing down costs across the market, Primus said.” READ: http://bit.ly/2Yl0dnI
WATER: From Juana Summers via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “Sen. Kamala Harris is introducing legislation designed to ensure all Americans, particularly those in at-risk communities, have access to safe, affordable drinking water, the latest response to burgeoning water crises across the country. The California Democrat and presidential candidate’s “Water Justice Act” would invest nearly $220 billion in clean and safe drinking water programs, with priority given to high-risk communities and schools. As part of that, Harris’ plan would declare a drinking water infrastructure emergency, devoting $50 billion toward communities and schools where water is contaminated to test for contaminants and to remediate toxic infrastructure.” READ: http://bit.ly/2YbMFqo
ASPIRIN: From Adrianna Rodriguez via USA Today, VERBATIM: “The millions of people who take aspirin every day to prevent heart attacks probably need to have serious conversations with their doctors about whether they truly need it. About 29 million people 40 and older were taking an aspirin a day in 2017 despite not having heart disease, according to a study by Harvard University and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center that was published Monday. The study also found about 6.6 million of those people were using aspirin even though a doctor never recommended it to them. And nearly 10 million people older than 70 who don’t have heart disease were taking daily aspirin for prevention, the researchers reported in Annals of Internal Medicine. The discovery comes after multiple, extensive studies last year found that only a marginal benefit, if any, could be found when taking routine aspirin – especially among older adults.” READ: http://bit.ly/2YcFzBZ
MEDIA: From Andy Steiner via MinnPost, VERBATIM: “From the outside, it looked like Bryan Piatt had everything going for him. An anchor at KARE 11 news, he fit the job description with his carefully coiffed hair, smooth voice and Midwestern good looks. But on the inside, Piatt, 33, felt he was the opposite of his pulled-together image . . . For most of his life, Piatt has struggled with mental illness. Diagnosed with anxiety disorder while in middle school, he tried for years to understand the troubling, repetitive thoughts that tumbled through his head. When he was diagnosed with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) during college, Piatt felt a measure of relief, but he didn’t fit the classic OCD stereotype of a hand-washing germaphobe. Instead, he often felt crippled by repetitive, anxiety-producing thoughts that felt impossible to set aside . . . ‘Having to get up and be in front of the camera every day and struggling with panic attacks around that got to be way too much for me,’ he said. ‘I finally realized I had to make a shift.’ For Piatt, making a shift involved making major changes in his life. First, he realized that he had to let his colleagues know about his mental illness, and then he had to ask for time away from the camera.” READ: http://bit.ly/2Yoscmq
TRAINING: From Jeff Lagasse via Healthcare Finance, VERBATIM: “On average, American colleges and universities with nursing programs offer about one hour of instruction in handling catastrophic situations such as nuclear events, pandemics, or water contamination crises, according to two recent studies coauthored by a nursing professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . . . The studies' results come from two surveys that were sent to all colleges and universities that offer nursing programs in the U.S. They revealed that most students said they were not getting enough instruction in emergency response, while professors and lecturers said they were not prepared to teach how to offer care during and after catastrophic situations.” READ: http://bit.ly/2YqviGs
DROWNINGS: From Phillip Reese via Kaiser Health News, VERBATIM: “Some welcome news at the height of summer swimming season: Children are far less likely to drown in California than they were in the 1980s — and child drowning rates have continued to fall even in the past decade, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The nation as a whole has experienced a similar, though less dramatic, decline, with drowning rates for children age 14 and younger now about one-third of what they were in the early 1980s. Experts say state and local laws that require more fencing and security features around family swimming pools have made a difference, along with increased awareness of the dangers of letting young children swim alone.” READ: http://bit.ly/2YkYuie
TAXES: From Richard Rubin and Amy Dockser Marcus via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Buyers of 23andMe Inc.’s genetic-testing kits will now have an easier time paying for the service with tax-advantaged health accounts after a favorable IRS ruling. The decision offers more clarity to consumers and reduces the cost of the company’s service. It also highlights differences between the tax law’s permissive definition of medical care and health regulators’ more restrictive approach to direct-to-consumer testing products. The Internal Revenue Service made the ruling in May and will release a redacted version next month. The Wall Street Journal reviewed the document before 23andMe disclosed it Monday.” READ: https://on.wsj.com/2YkZKBY
MEDTRONIC: From Douglas W. House via Seeking Alpha, VERBATIM: “Medtronic has filed an application with the FDA seeking approval for non-adjunctive labeling for its Guardian Sensor 3, part of the MiniMed 670G closed-loop insulin pump system. Non-adjunctive status means that the sensor is accurate enough to safely and consistently calculate an insulin dose for meals and to correct high blood sugar levels.” READ: http://bit.ly/2YgMU7T
AI: Via Medtronic, VERBATIM: “Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT), a global leader in medical technology, and Viz.ai, the emerging leader in applied artificial intelligence (AI) in stroke care, have partnered to accelerate the adoption of Viz.ai’s new technology, which helps synchronize stroke care and decrease time to treatment, potentially improving outcomes for patients. Viz.ai’s technology uses artificial intelligence to identify suspected large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes and automatically notify specialists. The Viz.ai software connects to hospital computed tomography (CT) scanners and alerts stroke specialists within minutes that a suspected LVO stroke has been identified, sending the radiological images directly to their smart phones where they can be viewed.Viz.ai enables a physician to provide the patient with the treatment they need as quickly as possible.” READ: http://bit.ly/2Yr7mTk
JOBS: From Ilana Kowarski via US News & World Report, VERBATIM: “If you're intrigued by the prospect of advising patients about different drugs and prescriptions and helping patients combat and prevent disease, a career as a pharmacist may be right for you, according to experts in the field. ‘Individuals that enjoy science, want to be part of the evolving health care team or are interested with any part of drug discovery, drug development, drug pricing, population health or precision medicine should seriously consider pharmacy,’ wrote James Dalton, dean and professor of pharmaceutical sciences with the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy, the No. 3 U.S. News Best Pharmacy School, in an email . . . Olivia Buncher, the associate director of admissions and recruitment at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, which is the No. 2 U.S. News Best Pharmacy School, says aspiring pharmacists should aim to speak with as many practicing pharmacists as possible to assess whether the job is a good fit. ‘Shadowing is a great way to see what a day in the life of a pharmacist looks like, but many health systems are limiting these opportunities due to concerns about patient privacy,’ Buncher wrote in an email.” READ: https://yhoo.it/2YbxihU
RETIREMENT: From Michelle Andrews via Kaiser Health News, VERBATIM: “When Karen Schirack, 67, slipped on her way into her house in January and broke her left femur in multiple places, she had a decision to make. Should she get surgery to repair the fractured thigh bone and replace her hip near Ajijic, Mexico, where she has lived for 20 years, or be airlifted back to her home state of Ohio for surgery and rehab? As the number of American retirees living overseas grows, more of them are confronting choices like Schirack’s about medical care. If they were living in the United States, Medicare would generally be their coverage option. But Medicare doesn’t pay for care outside the U.S., except in limited circumstances. Expatriate retirees might find private insurance policies and national health plans in other countries. But these may not provide the high-quality, comprehensive care at an affordable price that retirees expect through Medicare. Faced with imperfect choices, some retirees cobble together different types of insurance, a mix that includes Medicare.” READ: http://bit.ly/2Yq9OcI
DIABETES: From Jacqueline Howard via CNN, VERBATIM: “Sticking to a plant-based diet could help lower your risk of type 2 diabetes, a new paper suggests. That link between plant-based eating habits and type 2 diabetes is even more beneficial when only healthy plant-based foods -- such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts -- are included in your daily diet, as opposed to refined grains, starches and sugars, according to the study, published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday.” READ: https://cnn.it/2Yb0ZiX
CARBS: From Deborah Balzer via Mayo Clinic News Network, VERBATIM: “When it comes to dieting, people tend to go to extremes, says Dr. Donald Hensrud, director of the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. And that's true for carbs. Carbohydrates are vital for good overall health. And eating them doesn't need to be complicated, but they should be whole and complex.” WATCH: https://mayocl.in/2Yr3UIm
If you like podcasts, listen to Beers with Blois...http://bit.ly/BWBLISTEN
CHEERS: Rep. Tom Emmer sits down with host Blois Olson and talks about his hobby of brewing beer and his beer tracking app, Rep. Ilhan Omar’s relationship with the Minnesota delegation and on Congress failure of doing its job since the 1990’s because of a lack of leadership. He also had a few things to say about hockey parents and what people are think about Trump in his district.” LISTEN: http://bit.ly/2WT4euR (Sponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers and the North Central States Carpenters Union)
iTunes: Beers with Blois is now on iTunes, SUBSCRIBE: https://apple.co/2Mi3q2o
WHITEHOUSE: via Beers with Blois, Rep. Dean Phillips VERBATIM: “That hour I spent in the White House Situation Room with the President was eye opening." In addition, Phillips shares insights on how they share thoughts this weekend in the Problem Solvers Caucus trip to the border, as well as his plans for 2020.” LISTEN: http://bit.ly/BeerswBlois8 (Sponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers and the North Central States Carpenters Union)
NEU: The Lindstrom Bakery and Deputy House Minority Leader Anne Neu joins Blois to discuss Gov. Tim Walz role in the budget negotiations, Trump’s influence in the 2020 elections and how Minnesota DFLers are starting to look like DC Democrats on “radical” proposals. LISTEN: http://bit.ly/BeerswBlois5 (Sponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers and the North Central States Carpenters Union)
FREY: Using some blue language Mayor Jacob Frey introduces Blois to actual beer at La Doña, a cervezaria near where the Minnesota United Soccer stadium was going to be. Frey on his relationship with Chief Medaria Arradondo and how often they talk on the phone. LISTEN: http://bit.ly/BeerswBlois4 (Sponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers and the North Central States Carpenters Union)
via MORNING TAKE: Begin your day with political news via morning take
from Fluence Media. Sign up here to receive it in your InBox. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/joinmorningtak
DHS: Chris Serres and Glenn Howatt at the Star Tribune write about how a MN Department of Human Services official says she was punished for raising questions and reporting to superiors about legal issues in state contracts. READ: http://strib.mn/2M7VC1y
MEDICALBILLS: via John Lundy in the Grand Forks Herald, VERBATIM: “A new law going into effect this summer is an attempt to remove some of the surprise factor from medical bills in Minnesota...When it takes effect on Aug. 1, it will require clinics that are part of a larger hospital or health system — the vast majority of clinics in Duluth and in Minnesota — to post a notice on their premises and websites that the patient may receive a separate charge for the facility, and that it could mean higher out-of-pocket costs.” READ: http://bit.ly/2SxUtlc
OPIODS: via The Associated Press at MPR, VERBATIM: “U.S. government hospitals placed Native American patients at increased risk for opioid abuse and overdoses, failing to follow their own protocols for prescribing and dispensing the drugs, according to a federal audit made public Monday. The report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General does not draw conclusions about actual abuse or overdoses. But it said all five Indian Health Service hospitals that were reviewed had patients who were given opioids in amounts exceeding federal guidelines.” READ: http://bit.ly/2SuNyct
PRISONS: via KTTC, VERBATIM: “Minnesota prisons are turning to telepsychiatry to provide inmates with mental health care. Telepsychiatry is the provision of psychiatric services via video conferencing services such as Skype or FaceTime.” READ: http://bit.ly/2y0egQS
via BUSINESS TAKE: Subscribe to Business Take ---- Daily before noon making you smarter for lunch. SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/biztakemt2
KEYSURGICAL: From Eden Prairie-based Key Surgical via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Key Surgical LLC, a leading global provider of sterile processing and operating theatre supplies, announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Hamburg, Germany-based Insitumed GmbH. The strategic acquisition will broaden Key Surgical's portfolio of endoscopy products and further extend its global footprint.” READ: https://prn.to/2YnPaKo
3M: From Brooke Sutherland via Bloomberg, VERBATIM: “Industrial conglomerate 3M Co. agreed in May to acquire surgical wound-care company Acelity Inc. for $6.7 billion in a deal set to close later this year. By far the biggest purchase in 3M’s 117‑year history, it comes at a time when the company is at a crossroads . . . 3M admitted to operational missteps that exacerbated the earnings pressure from slumping demand in China and weak automotive and electronics markets. And although the company spends a higher percentage of its revenue on research and development than most peers, it hasn’t had much to show for it lately. The Acelity takeover signals a new—but risky—strategy by 3M to buy its way to better growth.” ANALYSIS: https://bloom.bg/2YdikIb
PAY: From BioSpace via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “According to a new report by BioSpace, the life science leader in news and careers, more than 65% of life science professionals received a salary increase in the last year with the average increase being 4.4%. The findings place the average industry salary at $113,654, on par with fields like chemical engineering and systems software development according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . . . One of the lowest paying regions, BioMidwest, which includes the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio & Wisconsin, reported an average salary of $94,402 but the area also reported the highest year over year average salary increase of 5.9%.” READ: https://prn.to/2Y8mr8o
SURMODICS: Via Eden Prairie-based Surmodics, VERBATIM: “Surmodics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SRDX), a leading provider of medical device and in vitrodiagnostic technologies to the healthcare industry, today announced that it will host a live webcast of its third quarter fiscal 2019 conference call on Wednesday, July 31, at 4 p.m. CT (5 p.m. ET).” READ: http://bit.ly/2Yecjz5
RECALL: From Alisha Ebrahimji via CNN, VERBATIM: “The Fresh Market and Target are recalling some of their salads and sandwiches due to a potential listeria contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Elevation Foods says containers of Archer Farms-branded egg salad; Freskët brand egg salad, tuna salad, and Thai lobster salad; and Archer Farms-branded deviled egg sandwiches made on June 18 all fall under the recall.” READ: https://cnn.it/2Y812fr
UNITEDHEALTH: Becker’s ASC Review’s Laura Dyrda wrote about “7 things Optum has done in the past 90 days.” VERBATIM: “UnitedHealth's Optum has the attention of healthcare providers, insurers and consumers as the company continues to grow in non-traditional ways. Over the past three months, Optum and its companies have made key acquisitions and entered into pioneering partnerships in the healthcare space. Its leaders have also outlined strategy for continued growth in the future.” READ: http://bit.ly/2Yh0rfm
|
|
|
|
