STATEFAIR: From UCare via Facebook, VERBATIM: “Only 2 weeks to go the Great Minnesota Get-together. Can you stand it? Be sure to visit UCare in the Health Fair 11 At The Fair bldg. (Dan Patch & Cooper) for your fun bike selfie and enter a drawing for a prize! See you at the Fair!” SEE: http://bit.ly/2TnOxKr (SPONSORED: UCare)
MORE: Via Minnesota State Fair, a map to Health Fair 11 at the Fair. MAP: http://bit.ly/33ga2mA
TODAY: Blois Olson hosted nine commissioners or deputy commissioners today at FarmFest for a conversation about how state agencies connect to Greater Minnesota. The discussion will be broadcast at 6PM on Wednesday on WCCO Radio. The Fluence Forum is sponsored by Minnesota’s Corn Growers.
#1: From April E. Knutson via Forum News Service, VERBATIM: “A recent study by Wallethub.com ranks Minnesota as the top state for health care based on factors like the cost, access, and outcomes of treatment. While its neighbor states of North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin rank in the top 20 best in the nation . . . Minnesota is placed at the top of the list for best health care based on high ranking for the other three major factors: access, cost, and outcomes, according to the study.” READ: http://bit.ly/2T8MVWk
MORE: Via Wallethub, the full results. READ: http://bit.ly/2coyjxj
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
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)
OPIOIDS: From Jon Collins via Minnesota Public Radio, VERBATIM: “At the height of the opioid epidemic, enough prescription painkillers were distributed to Minnesota pharmacies for every state resident to have 156 pills, according to new government data made available by the Washington Post. The 842 million pills distributed between 2006 and 2012 came as hundreds of Minnesotans died of opioid overdoses. ‘It was the height of carelessness. It was the height of profits. It was the height of insanity, when people were looking the other way is when my son got sick and actually died,’ said Dave Baker, a Republican state representative who lost his son, Dan, to overdose in 2011 . . . Most pills made their way to the Twin Cities metro area, where much of the state’s population lives. There were 195 million pills distributed in Hennepin County. Another 86 million pills went to Ramsey County . . . Rural counties — Mille Lacs, Pennington, Wadena, Big Stone and Aitkin — topped the list for the number of pills dispensed per resident, according to the data.” LISTEN/MAPS: http://bit.ly/2T9dqea
GUNS: From Liz Szabo via Kaiser Health News, VERBATIM: “In his response Monday to mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, President Donald Trump called for an expansion of state laws that temporarily prevent someone in crisis from buying or possessing a gun. A flurry of states have recently passed such laws — known as extreme risk protection orders — which allow a court to intervene when someone shows warning signs of impending violence . . . Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has introduced a bill to provide federal funding to states to put such laws into practice. A similar bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Calif.). After Trump’s Monday speech, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have agreed to get the bills passed. A 2018 poll found 85% of registered voters support such legislation.” READ: http://bit.ly/2T9uBMR
MENTALHEALTH: From Catherine Lucey, Rebecca Ballhaus, and Natalie Andrews via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “He called for an overhaul of mental-health laws to ‘better identify mentally disturbed individuals,’ provide treatment, and enable involuntary confinement when necessary. ‘Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun,’ the president said.” READ: https://on.wsj.com/2Ta4zJ9
MORE: From Carla K. Johnson via Associated Press, VERBATIM: “In response, mental health experts repeated what they have said after previous mass shootings: Most people with mental illness are not violent, they are far more likely to be victims of violent crime than perpetrators, and access to firearms is a big part of the problem. ‘Until we begin to have our political leaders speaking more accurately to these issues, it’s up to us to put the facts out there,’ said Arthur Evans, chief executive officer of the American Psychological Association. Evans agreed that red flag laws , also known as extreme risk protection orders, are a worthwhile step.” READ: http://bit.ly/2T9wGZb
NUMBERS: From Bill Eddy via Psychology Today, VERBATIM: “Most people think of mental illness as a psychosis, such as schizophrenia, in which the person is out of touch with reality and has hallucinations and/or delusions. Studies show that about 20-25% of mass shooters (defined as killing three or more in one incident) suffered from this type of mental illness. ‘About one in five are likely psychotic or delusional,’ according to Dr. Michael Stone, a forensic psychiatrist at Columbia University who maintains a database of 350 mass killers going back more than a century…. ‘But the rest of these murderers do not have any severe, diagnosable disorder.’” READ: http://bit.ly/33iKC7C
SOCIALMEDIA: From Daniela Hernandez and Parmy Olson via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Social media is increasingly playing a role in that process, especially among lone actors like the ones responsible for the recent mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. In 2016, social media—including services like Facebook , WhatsApp, Skype, Instagram and YouTube, plus personal blogs and forums—played a role in radicalizing and mobilizing roughly 90% of lone actors, according to a 2018 study by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism. Between 2005-2016, social media played a role in radicalizing 50% of individuals in extremists groups.” READ: https://on.wsj.com/33f0Sql
If you like podcasts, listen to Beers with Blois...http://bit.ly/BWBLISTEN
DULUTH: In episode #10 of Beers with Blois, from Hoops Brewing in Canal Park, Duluth Mayor Emily Larson discusses how Duluth residents voted for higher taxes for infrastructure with over 70 percent of the vote, what the city is doing to address making housing more accessible, and why she’s taking the lead on pushing the EPA to study hydrogen fluoride after a refinery explosion in Superior, WI. LISTEN: http://bit.ly/BeerswBlois10 (Sponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers and the North Central States Carpenters Union)
BENSON: In episode #9 of Beers with Blois, from Invectis Brewery in Blaine, Beers with Blois catches up with State Sen. Michelle Benson on potential ways to split-up DHS and forthcoming prescription drug reform legislation. She shares the perspective on how physicians in the Senate influence legislation and what her plan is for re-election in 2020. LISTEN: http://bit.ly/BeerswBlois9
(Sponsored by Minnesota Corn Growers and the North Central States Carpenters Union)
RURALHOSPITALS: From Susan Morse via Healthcare Finance, VERBATIM: “The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has increased wage index payments to rural hospitals that addresses concerns over the disparity between hospital payments in high-wage areas versus low-wage areas, which tend to be rural. CMS is redistributing funds by decreasing payments for all hospitals . . . Rural areas have experienced more than 100 hospital closures since 2010 and continue to face limited access to specialty care. Changes made to the hospital wage index is helping many rural and other low-wage hospitals attract and maintain a skilled workforce, CMS said.” READ: http://bit.ly/2T8y7XQ
WORKFORCE: via the Center for Rural Policy and Development, VERBATIM: “Ask business owners in Minnesota what their biggest challenge is today and most will tell you: “finding help.” Economic growth coupled with an aging workforce heading toward retirement and fewer young people to replace them is putting significant pressure on Greater Minnesota’s employers, making hiring significantly more challenging…Business owners have “levers” they can pull to attract applicants, and the data indicate that those levers are being used: wages are up while qualification requirements, such as education and work experience, are decreasing…But although it might be a good time to be a job seeker, at some point the levers can’t be pulled any further. Without more people entering the labor force to replace the people leaving, businesses will have to make serious decisions, including whether to move or close…Fortunately for Greater Minnesota, there are numerous partnerships and initiatives developing between private, public, and non-profit institutions to tap hidden talent pools, attract a new workforce through migration and immigration, and retain young people in their regions.” READ: http://bit.ly/2Aqrbw8 (SPONSORED: RuralMN.org)
MEDICAID: From Susannah Luthi via Modern Healthcare, VERBATIM: “The CMS on Monday issued new guidance for states and Medicaid managed-care programs to change up their Medicaid drug utilization review programs by the end of this year. Medicaid programs have been on the front lines fighting the opioid epidemic. The CMS' new mandates, which include setting opioid prescription limits and monitoring Medicaid patients for potential abuse, apply equally to state Medicaid fee-for-service programs and private managed-care companies. States have until Dec. 31 to outline their state plan amendments to overhaul the way they approach opioid use by their Medicaid populations. They will have to set their own limits on opioid prescriptions and refills while also tracking patients who are at risk of overusing painkillers, or who may be concurrently taking multiple prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines and antipsychotics.” READ: http://bit.ly/33f1KeB
CANADA: From Allison Martell via Reuters, VERBATIM: “Canada’s main pharmaceutical lobby group has urged the government not to wait for drug shortages before responding to U.S. plans to import Canadian drugs, according to documents seen by Reuters. The talking points were prepared last month by Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) for its staff and member companies, before the Trump administration announced on Wednesday that it would allow U.S. states and other groups to start pilot programs importing cheap drugs from Canada in an effort to lower drug costs. In one early version of its talking points, the IMC proposed the Canadian government ban all drug exports ‘unless otherwise permitted by regulation’ . . . It warned that ‘reliance on reactive measures after shortages occur may pose a risk to Canadian patients.’” READ: https://reut.rs/33h9PQ0
MEASLES: Via Reuters, VERBATIM: “The United States recorded eight new measles cases last week, taking the total for the year to 1,172 in the worst outbreak since 1992, federal health officials said on Monday.” READ: https://nyti.ms/338AyOy
ALZHEIMER’S: From AACC via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “A novel study has discovered metabolites that predict which Alzheimer's patients are likely to see their symptoms improve with exercise therapy. These findings were unveiled today at the 71stAACC Annual Scientific Meeting & Clinical Lab Expo, and could be used to develop a blood test to guide Alzheimer's treatment . . . A team of researchers led by Danni Li, PhD, and Fang Yu, PhD, of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, has identified blood metabolites that could be used to predict cognitive response to exercise in Alzheimer's patients.” READ: https://prn.to/33imMZF
SUPPLEMENTS: From Vivien Williams via Mayo Clinic News Network, VERBATIM: “Which dietary supplements should you take to improve heart health? The answer may be none. Research published in Annals of Internal Medicine shows that many supplements do not reduce your risk of heart disease. Dr. M. Hassan Murad, a Mayo Clinic preventive medicine specialist, is a co-author of the study.” WATCH: https://mayocl.in/2T7Z7Xe
FANS: From Lauren Joseph via Stat, VERBATIM: “A preliminary study published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggests that using fans to cool off may be safer than previously thought — even when temperatures exceed 100 degrees.
Recommendations from major public health bodies — including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and Environmental Protection Agency — all advise against using electric fans in extreme heat. When it reaches 99 degrees Fahrenheit, fans may increase the work and stress that the body has to respond to in order to cool down, and in these conditions, you shouldn’t use a fan, according to the WHO, which cites the EPA, which cites the CDC. ‘The current recommendations are not based on any evidence whatsoever,’ said Ollie Jay, an associate professor in thermoregulatory physiology at the University of Sydney in Australia, who led the research team that wrote the new paper. ‘And [ours] is evidence, actual scientific evidence, that is supporting the use of fans in the target conditions.’” READ: http://bit.ly/33cwqNL
SLEEP: From Sumathi Reddy via The Wall Street Journal, VERBATIM: “Studies show a majority of patients take sleep medications for at least a year, and 30% for at least five years. ‘A good percentage of people have made at least one attempt to get off of it and haven’t succeeded,’ says Jack Edinger, a psychology professor who specializes in insomnia at National Jewish Health in Denver. With an eye on reducing that problem, Dr. Edinger is studying whether patients trying to get off sleep medications do better if they don’t know what they’re taking. In a pilot study, he found that patients who taper their medications in a blinded way—taking their normal dose of medication some nights, and less or no medication on others—do better at staying off their medications in the long term. In July he got federal funding to do a five-year, $2.5 million study in a larger group of 260 patients.” READ: https://on.wsj.com/33gokUk
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
INEQUITIES: From Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota via PRNewswire, VERBATIM: “Minnesota consistently ranks as one of the healthiest states, yet it's also home to some of the worst health inequities in the nation. Health inequities disproportionately impact communities of color and American Indians, as well as those living in rural Minnesota and people with low incomes. Tragically, in the 21st century, race, place and income remain primary predictors of health. The Center for Prevention at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) believes that all people, regardless of race, income, zip code or other factors, should have opportunities to live the healthiest lives possible. To advance health equity, Blue Cross launched the Catalyst Funding Initiative and is investing $396,000 to catalyze creative solutions to health inequities.” READ: https://prn.to/2T93HVc
TOMORROW: From Simply Connect via Business Wire, VERBATIM: “Simply Connect is excited to invite healthcare and senior living professionals to an important symposium on technology-supported emerging health care trends and opportunities on August 7, 2019. The event, which will take place on the banks of the Mississippi River at the award-winning Nicollet Island Pavilion from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., will provide participants with exclusive insights from industry leaders and experts on emerging models of care and changing regulations.” READ: https://bwnews.pr/2TfEad5
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)
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GUNCONTROL: via KSTP, VERBATIM: “Lawmakers and local gun advocates reacted Monday to the president calling for stronger background checks and red flag legislation after two mass shootings this past weekend. Legislation on background checks and red flag laws failed to pass the Minnesota legislature last session, only gaining approval from the House. The red flag law would have allowed police to temporarily confiscate guns from people judged to be a threat to themselves or others…Around the state, lawmakers reacted to the two mass shootings and President Donald Trump's remarks. President Trump said Monday that he wants legislation providing "strong background checks" for gun users and mentioned red flag legislation, but didn't offer up specific details on laws or how those changes would happen.” READ: http://bit.ly/2ZyP5AN
MORE: via Brian Bakst at MPR, VERBATIM: “Gov. Tim Walz said Monday he pressed the Minnesota Senate’s top Republican to convene hearings on stalled gun legislation prior to next year’s session. But Walz said Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka made no commitments. Walz was already due to speak with Gazelka by phone on other topics. The DFL governor says the weekend’s mass shootings in Ohio and Texas, which claimed 31 lives combined and injured dozens more, have again put needed focus on access to firearms. “Can we at least have a hearing, can we at least discuss this, can we at least look at if there is a combination of things?” Walz said. “I just think the deafening silence of not doing anything, of rejecting the call to hold a hearing just can’t go on any longer.”” READ: http://bit.ly/2M1i3pZ
MORE: via Marielle Mohs at WCCO, VERBATIM: “After two mass shootings within 24 hours over the weekend, many people are asking what they can do to get their voices heard. WCCO spoke to representatives with Moms Demand Action MN– who advocate for solutions to address gun violence in the U.S.– and Gun Owners Caucus of MN, who advocate to protect gun rights. Both organizations encourage supporters to call their congress members following the mass shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio. “Talk to them about why you think certain ideas are worth exploring, why you think certain ideas won’t work. It’s really the only way we’re going to get anywhere is if we stop making political footballs out of these tragedies,” said Rob Doar, political director for Gun Owners Caucus of MN. Erin Zamoff, the state chapter leader of Moms Demand Action, says you should be calling your state and U.S. senators even if you already agree with their viewpoints. “Senators Klobuchar and Smith need to know that their constituents are behind them and how important it is… that they prioritize this issue,” said Zamoff.” READ: https://cbsloc.al/2T62MVL
OPIOIDS: via WCCO, VERBATIM: “Data shows opioid manufacturers distributed about 842 million pills to Minnesota pharmacies from 2006 to 2012, amounting to 156 pills for each resident. Minnesota Public Radio News, analyzing data obtained by the Washington Post after a legal battle, reports that most of the pills were circulated in urban Hennepin and Ramsey counties, but that rural counties topped the list for most pills dispensed per resident. The number of opioid-related deaths in the state rose from 153 in 2006 to 239 in 2012, a more than 35% spike. Almost 1,400 Minnesotans died in that six-year period. Opioid overdose deaths in Minnesota reached a record 427 in 2017. The state required prescribers to enroll in a prescription monitoring program that year. Minnesota’s Senate passed legislation this year to combat the opioid crisis.” READ: https://cbsloc.al/2Klf6id
MORE: via news release from Attorney General Keith Ellison, VERBATIM: “AG Ellison’s office files unredacted complaint that shows family that controls Purdue paid themselves $4B in profit from opioids, while calling addicted people ‘criminals,’ ‘scum of the earth’ — then exploiting addiction treatment as an ‘attractive market’ that is ‘naturally linked’ to the crisis they created. AG Ellison: Complaint shows Sacklers ‘motivated not by human dignity or the value of human life, but by unlimited greed above all else’. The Sackler family that controls Purdue Pharma — the manufacturer of the blockbuster opioid OxyContin and other opioids — knew as early as 20 years ago of the risks of addiction and death that their products posed, but denied and downplayed those risks, stigmatized addicted people, then moved to profit from the market for addiction treatment. All this and more is revealed in the unredacted First Amended Complaint against Purdue and eight members of the Sackler family.”
INSULIN: via news release from Summer Senate. “The Summer Student Senate, a group of 14 young Minnesotans, passed an insulin accessibility program bill and asks the Legislature to do the same. They have a press conference on Thursday and will be joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.”
911: via AP, VERBATIM: “A county in northwest Minnesota is about to become the first in the state to let cellphone callers stream live video and audio to dispatchers when they call 911 for help…Ray Kuznia, sheriff of Pennington County, said that the technology will be implemented later in August, the Minnesota Public Radio News reported. Kuznia added it should help dispatchers make better decisions in responding to emergency calls such as car crashes and domestic incidents…A caller will dial 911 on a cellphone within the Pennington County service area. The dispatcher can send a text message to the caller’s cellphone if they want to take over the caller’s camera. The caller has to option to accept or decline. The emergency dispatcher would then be able to see wherever the caller points the camera.” READ: http://bit.ly/2YKfHSu
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BACKPACKEMR: Form Taryn Phaneuf via Minne Inno, VERBATIM: “It was a whirlwind week in Kenya. Lori Most, founder of BinaryBridge, was there in June to test her mobile electronic medical record system, called BackpackEMR, for the Nairobi County government. It was the second test. During the first, the digital record-keeping system that is designed to track patient information in remote places with limited internet had some trouble with the volume of patients . . . Minneapolis-based BackpackEMR, one of Minne Inno’s ‘Inno on Fire’ startups, has posted a strong 2019 so far, with a funding round and new contracts that make it a year of growth. So far, 12 organizations serving patients in nine countries have adopted the technology, paying subscriptions based on the number of patients.” READ/PHOTOS: http://bit.ly/2YCPoNW
USBANK: From Jeff Moss via Forbes, VERBATIM: “On March 14, 2019, the largest domestic CBD payment processor, Elavon Inc., a subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, wrote in an email to its hemp and CBD clients: ‘After several months supporting this merchant segment, it has become clear that the pace of an evolving federal and state regulatory framework makes it extremely difficult to validate the qualifications required to operate within this industry,’ This came with the announcement that Elavon was ceasing all CBD- and hemp-related business, giving their newly prohibited existing merchants 45 days before their accounts would be closed. This decision was apparently sparked when one of Elavon’s merchants was raided and caught selling THC products mislabeled as CBD products. Elavon extended the 45-day window to 60 days, and on May 15, Elavon officially dropped all CBD accounts.” READ: http://bit.ly/33kkuJV
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