Health Care
Governor signs ‘Rural Emergency Hospital’ licensing into law
Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a measure intended to help keep some hospitals open in rural Iowa. House File 75 creates a state licensure process allowing some hospitals to get a “Rural Emergency Hospital” (REH) designation. The designation comes from a federal program, in which hospitals stop providing inpatient services but are able […]
COVID cases decline with state poised to reduce reporting
State health officials are expected to switch away from an online dashboard to display COVID-19 data at the end of this week, which was the third in a row to have declining new reported infections for Iowa. That reporting change — along with eliminating a requirement for clinical labs to report confirmed infections by the […]
Iowa House panels advance bills creating new eligibility hurdles for public assistance programs
Advocates for low-income Iowans told lawmakers Tuesday that proposed changes in eligibility rules for Iowa’s public assistance programs will hurt families struggling to make ends meet. Iowa House members held a series of meetings Tuesday on bills making changes to eligibility for Iowa’s public assistance programs. Senate File 494 would add new asset tests and […]
Citing ‘incompetence,’ board issues emergency suspension of doctor’s license
The Iowa Board of Medicine has issued an emergency order suspending the practice of an eastern Iowa dermatologist accused of incompetence and practicing in an unsafe manner. The immediate and indefinite suspension of Dr. Ravindra Kumar Gangadhariah’s ability to practice medicine “is necessary to protect the public health, safety or welfare until this case is […]
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa lawmakers address TikTok and tech issues
Iowa’s legislators touched on tech and TikTok this week with hearings that highlighted a continued focus on China. Lawmakers also worked to block emissions tests for livestock production while promoting ethanol and advancing technology in health care and agriculture. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks participated in the House Energy and Commerce committee’s grilling of TikTok CEO Shou Zi […]
Chiropractor again faces charges of sexual impropriety with patients
An Iowa chiropractor who was allowed to keep his license despite findings of sexual impropriety with patients is again facing charges from state regulators. The Iowa Board of Chiropractic has charged Stuart Hoven of Winterset with unethical conduct for behavior that includes engaging in a sexual or emotional relationship with a former patient; habitual intoxication […]
Information on sanctioned nurses and EMTs can be hard to access
Public information on Iowa nurses and emergency medical technicians accused of wrongdoing isn’t always easy to access — and, in some cases, it has been impossible to obtain. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services acknowledged this week that it had not disclosed on its website any of the disciplinary actions taken against emergency […]
Emergency services agencies cited for using unlicensed personnel to treat patients
Two Iowa emergency medical services agencies have been sanctioned by the state for allowing unlicensed emergency medical technicians or paramedics to deliver care to patients. In November, the Iowa Bureau of Emergency and Trauma Services cited the Hawarden Ambulance Association in western Iowa for allowing an individual with no Iowa EMS certification to deliver emergency […]
Governor signs transgender medical care, bathroom use bills into law
Transgender youth can no longer receive gender-affirming care or use school bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity under laws signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The governor signed 10 bills into law Wednesday, including a ban on gender-affirming care for minors and a requirement that people can only use school bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond […]
State again fails to impose legally mandated fine after nursing home death
The state agency that oversees Iowa’s nursing homes has again failed to impose the legally mandated fines against a repeat-offender care facility. It’s at least the second time in four months that the state has failed to impose the minimum fine against an Iowa care facility implicated in the death of a resident. State records […]
Moderna plan to hike COVID vaccine price to $130 a dose rebuked at U.S. Senate hearing
WASHINGTON — The CEO of Moderna on Wednesday defended the company’s decision to drastically increase the price of its COVID-19 vaccine later this year, arguing that an expected drop in demand, changes to its distribution process and the overall benefit of the vaccine warrant the higher cost. That decision was met with bipartisan condemnation from […]
Bill establishing midwife licensing advances through Iowa House
Midwives would have a licensing process for the first time in Iowa under legislation approved with bipartisan support Tuesday by Iowa House. Iowa is one of 15 states that does not have a licensing process for professional midwives. The bill, House File 265, would create a regulatory board to certify midwifes and ensure they’ve completed […]