Health Care
You might need an ambulance, but your state might not see it as ‘essential’
When someone with a medical emergency calls 911, they expect an ambulance to show up. But sometimes, there simply isn’t one available. Most states don’t declare emergency medical services (EMS) to be an “essential service,” meaning the state government isn’t required to provide or fund them. Now, though, a growing number of states are taking […]
U.S. Justice Department asks Supreme Court to take up abortion pill case
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday asked the Supreme Court to decide whether the abortion pill should remain on the market after two lower courts issued differing opinions about its use. The case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, will likely be the second time the conservative-leaning Supreme […]
D.C. Dispatch: Lawmakers highlight meatpacking, weapons safety, health care
During their August recess, Iowa’s members of Congress were back in their home state, touring with presidential candidates, making state fair appearances and making progress on county tours. Rep. Randy Feenstra showed presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott around parts of the 4th District, Rep. Ashley Hinson completed her 22-county tour, Rep. Zach Nunn completed his […]
Ruth Richardson, CEO of regional Planned Parenthood, resigns from Minnesota House
Third-term state Rep. Ruth Richardson, DFL-Mendota Heights, announced her resignation from the Minnesota Legislature on Friday evening in a Twitter thread, writing her time in the Legislature has been “the honor of a lifetime,” but that her “season of service is ending effective immediately.” In a Tuesday interview, Richardson said she needs to give her […]
Jill Biden tests positive for COVID-19; President, testing negative, maintains schedule
WASHINGTON — First lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Monday night, the White House said in a statement. Biden has mild symptoms and will spend the week at home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, the White House said. President Joe Biden tested negative Monday night and Tuesday. He will continue to be tested “at a […]
Death rates for people under 40 have skyrocketed. Blame fentanyl.
A new Stateline analysis shows that U.S. residents under 40 were relatively unscathed by COVID-19 in the pandemic but fell victim to another killer: accidental drug overdose deaths. Death rates in the age group were up by nearly a third in 2021 over 2018, and last year were still 21% higher. COVID-19 was a small […]
Home health agencies throughout Iowa cited for violations
Fifteen of Iowa’s 135 home-health agencies have been inspected by the state so far this year and 14 of them have been cited for violations. Four of the agencies cited for violations are run by county health departments. At one privately operated agency, inspectors found that patients were in immediate jeopardy caused by a nurse […]
State says psychologist won’t respond to patient-abandonment complaint
An eastern Iowa psychologist is facing disciplinary charges related to allegations of patient abandonment. The Iowa Board of Psychology alleges that in June 2022, it received a complaint that licensed psychologist Tracy Ksiazak of Iowa City had abandoned a juvenile patient by failing to respond to inquiries on the patient’s behalf. In August and October […]
Not just Ohio: Biased language is the hot new tactic to thwart ballot measures
Abortion-rights supporters filed a lawsuit this week against what they call “deceptive” ballot language produced by Ohio officials for the state’s closely-watched upcoming referendum on the issue. But it isn’t just the Buckeye State that’s lately seeing fierce battles over the once-obscure topic of ballot language. In recent weeks, officials in Missouri — where another abortion-rights […]
Nurse loses license after drunk-driving arrest, allegations of missing narcotics
The Iowa Board of Nursing has revoked the license of a nurse who, while working at various Iowa care facilities, was accused of sleeping on the job, being responsible for missing narcotics, leaving work without authorization, failing to administer patient medications and sitting in her car while on duty. According to board records, Alicia Davis […]
Bankruptcy trustee objects to UI’s plans for a speedy purchase of Mercy Hospital
A federal bankruptcy trustee has objected to plans by the University of Iowa to fast-track its planned $20 million purchase of Mercy Hospital-Iowa City. Faced with the possibility of involuntary receivership, Mercy filed for bankruptcy earlier this month and, at the same time, announced plans for its acquisition by the University of Iowa. The Iowa […]
Biden administration chooses first 10 drugs for Medicare price negotiations
WASHINGTON — Medicare can now negotiate lower prices for 10 common high-price drugs, cutting out-of-pocket costs for an estimated 9 million seniors and saving taxpayers billions, the Biden administration said Tuesday. Medicare will begin this year to negotiate with the manufacturers of popular medications used to treat blood clots, diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic […]