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Health and Wellness

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Grassley, Klobuchar urge CMS to prioritize Rural Emergency Hospital designation

Rural hospitals that close inpatient beds and revamp as standalone emergency rooms may receive more funding under a proposal being advocated by Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, Bloomberg reported. Grassley …
By BPC Staff | Jun 10, 2021
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State no longer lets Iowans view own vaccination records online, after concerns that employers might peek

Des Moines Register: Iowans will no longer be able to use a state website to check their own vaccination histories or those of their children. The change comes amid national controversy over whether employers should …
By BPC Staff | Jun 10, 2021
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33K vaccine doses are expiring in Iowa

Axios Des Moines: Around 33,000 Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccine doses will expire in Iowa this month, state health officials said yesterday. Less than half of the state is vaccinated and vaccine demand has plummeted …
By BPC Staff | Jun 10, 2021
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New UnitedHealthcare policy allows insurer to retroactively deny ER claims

Hospitals and physicians are condemning a new UnitedHealthcare policy under which the insurer may retroactively deny some emergency department claims, Fierce Healthcare reported. Effective July 1 across most states, UnitedHealthcare, the largest U.S. health insurer, may not …
By BPC Staff | Jun 9, 2021
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Wellmark announces plan to enter Medicare Advantage market in 2022

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced Tuesday it will offer new Medicare Advantage plans to Iowans and South Dakotans this fall, pending approval from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Its new affiliate, …
By BUSINESS RECORD STAFF | Jun 8, 2021
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A Closer Look: Clay Holderman

Clay Holderman began his duties as president and CEO of UnityPoint Health in mid-February, joining the organization after working for the largest health system in New Mexico. Most recently he was executive vice president and …
By JOE GARDYASZ | Jun 8, 2021
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Moving to a more integrative approach to care

Kara Dobelis Pohren had spent much of her career as an intensive care and surgical nurse before realizing that there were more holistic, effective ways to deliver care to patients. 

“I’ve been in corporate medicine …
By JOE GARDYASZ | Jun 8, 2021
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Alzheimer’s Association hails FDA approval of aducanumab as historic victory

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved aducanumab to treat Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, aducanumab is the first drug that slows Alzheimer’s disease, and its …
By BPC Staff | Jun 8, 2021
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Iowa auditor, governor differ on legality of Reynolds’ COVID-19 PSA

Cedar Rapids Gazette: State Auditor Rob Sand, who is eyeing a run for governor next year, says Gov. Kim Reynolds violated Iowa law by using federal funds to pay for a public service announcement to raise …
By BPC Staff | Jun 3, 2021
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Lifespace Communities sells Deerfield, Grand Lodge retirement communities

Lifespace Communities in West Des Moines announced Wednesday that it has reached an agreement with Omaha-based Immanuel Communities to transfer ownership and management of Lifespace’s campuses in Urbandale and in Lincoln, Neb., to Immanuel. Financial terms of the …
By BPC Staff | Jun 3, 2021