MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. - Knowing just how far candidates will go to support health issues like fighting cancer isn't always easy to figure out. That's why the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS-CAN) is issuing its first-ever Minnesota voter guide. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Minnesota, with about 23,000 Minnesotans diagnosed every year, and another 9,000 who die from the disease.

Rebecca Thoman, who does field government relations for the Cancer Action Network, says that makes cancer an economic issue.

"It's also a significant driver of health care costs, and that's why we think cancer should be a priority issue, and there should be some focus from our gubernatorial candidates on how to prevent and reduce cancer."

The guide asks all three gubernatorial candidates their positions on two cancer-fighting policies: increased funding for the state's breast and cervical cancer screening program, Sage, and a tobacco tax increase. Thoman says that despite being given several opportunities, Representative Tom Emmer is the only candidate not to respond.

Thoman says the first question asked candidates if they were interested in continuing and increasing funding for the Sage Program, which has served the state's uninsured or underinsured low-income women since 1990.

"The Minnesota Sage Program is underfunded. We only currently serve about three out of five eligible women. This is an effort to help low-income women access mammograms, and it's present in every county across the state."

Each year in Minnesota, 5500 smoking-related deaths occur, and the state's annual health care costs related to smoking add up to a whopping $2 billion. Curbing smoking is a priority for the ACS, which is why Thoman says the candidates were asked where they stand on the issue of a cigarette tax.

"We know that lung cancer is the number-one cancer, it's the number-one cancer-killer, and we also know that tobacco is the number-one cause, so our efforts long-term have been to reduce smoking. We know that increasing the price of tobacco is really a proven strategy, especially among younger people. "

The current cigarette tax in Minnesota is $1.56, and the ACS would like to see that tax raised by at least a dollar.

To read the candidate's responses, visit www.acscan.org

Information on smoking and its economic impact:
www.tobacccofreekids.org




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Toughing it out during spring allergy season is not in your best interest if you want to avoid asthma later in life.

New Mexico has plenty of grass and weed pollens carried by the wind which contribute to itchy, watery eyes, a stuffy nose and sneezing fits this time of year.

Dr. Osman Dokmeci, associate professor of internal medicine at the University of New Mexico, suggested for those who suffer acutely, seek an allergy test and possibly medication to prevent asthma from taking hold.

"One out of 10 has asthma in America," Dokmeci pointed out. "Having seasonal allergies increases your chance of developing asthma at least fivefold."

He recommended treating allergies early and as aggressively as possible. May is "Asthma Awareness Month," which aims to bring attention to the health issue and highlight improvements in care and quality of life. Nationwide, asthma affects more than 25 million Americans, including 4 million children, and disproportionately affects certain racial and ethnic groups.

Allergies do not "cause" asthma but people who have allergies, or have family members who have allergies, are more likely to get asthma than those who do not. Research shows allergy season is starting earlier and lasting longer. A 2022 study from the University of Michigan found pollen count could increase by 200% by the end of the century due to climate change, which is why Dokmeci stressed it is important not to ignore the problem.

"There's no treatment that actually makes your asthma not happen," Dokmeci explained. "But once you develop asthma, there are good treatment options."

The estimated economic impact of asthma is more than $80 billion per year from direct and indirect costs, such as missed school and workdays.

Recent research shows approximately half of people who die by suicide had contact with a health care professional within the month prior to their death.

However, a recent study shows only 8% of hospitals are currently implementing all four recommended suicide prevention practices: safety planning, warm handoffs to outpatient care, patient follow-up and lethal means counseling.

Melissa Tolstyka, director of Behavioral Health Services for Trinity Health Ann Arbor, said a seamless transition from inpatient to outpatient care is critical. At Ann Arbor, she saw a 46% increase in compliance with comprehensive suicide risk assessments and patients discharged on the suicide care pathway now receive a safety plan, which she sees as progress.

"We continue to see a need for really robust programming," Tolstyka explained. "Not just within the behavioral health world, but in the medical world as well. Our organization really wanted to focus on bringing the behavioral health and the medical services together to enhance our safer suicide care practices for our patients."

The initiative is being piloted across various units at Trinity Hospitals in Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids including the emergency department, psychiatric medical and inpatient nursing units. If you or anyone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by calling or texting 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

Casie Sultana, clinical nurse leader for Trinity Health Grand Rapids, prioritizes patient well-being, emphasizing support and improvement over solely managing risks within the facility.

"We want to be someplace that people feel welcome to come to who are dealing with suicide," Sultana emphasized. "You feel so alone. It's a very lonely journey and we want people to come seek help and feel welcomed when they do that."

Susan Burchardt, clinical services manager at Trinity Grand Rapids, advised other hospitals considering a similar program to learn from organizations already using it.

Support for this reporting was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.


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Access to reduced-price medication is a necessity for many rural Missourians with low income.

Rep. Cindy O'Laughlin, R-Shelbina, the Senate Floor Leader, said Big Pharma is trying to confuse legislators with unrelated hot-button topics such as abortion access and illegal immigration in a last-ditch effort to stop the state from joining a program to force drugmakers to sell medicines at a discount.

"Appealing to nuclear topics, which really do not apply in this situation, is a disingenuous way to try to defeat a bill that is actually good for Missouri," O'Laughlin asserted.

O'Laughlin pointed out the program is transparent, and uses the tax money saved to help low-income families deal with chronic conditions such as diabetes.

The drugmakers object to the government forcing them to give significant discounts, arguing hospitals' and for-profit pharmacies' bottom lines, particularly those owned by pharmacy benefits managers, are being exploited. Nationally, 46% of contract pharmacy agreements involve pharmacies linked to the three largest benefits managers.

Rep. Tara Peters, R-Rolla, introduced the 340B contract pharmacy access billand said the lobbying is absurd.

"Federally, 340B program does not allow for abortion drugs," Peters stressed. "Why would any legislation that we're trying to pass in the state allow for that? I mean, the thought of that even being in existence is absolutely ludicrous."

The Missouri Senate passed the bill 27-3 on Monday and it now goes to the House.


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