Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By Iowa Hospital Association|
|February 25, 2022

Iowa news

Cass Health CEO sets the record straight on health rumors

Cass Health CEO Brett Altman shot down rumors Friday that he had recently been “air-lifted out of the hospital” due to a serious health issue, but acknowledged that he has been ill and was being treated at the hospital. Altman said he had been diagnosed with “empyema (infection) and a pleural effusion in my lung cavity” requiring surgery to “clean out” his lung cavity. Altman is recovering and praised his care at the hospital. (Atlantic News Telegraph)

Get Iowa COVID case, deaths and data updates on this new dashboard after state’s shut down

A new website, the product of a collaboration among Iowa newspapers, will serve as a central source of Iowa COVID-19 data. Iowa decommissioned its coronavirus data website and moved disease reports to the Iowa Department of Public Health website to mirror reporting of other respiratory infections. The change coincided with the expiration of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ COVID-19 disaster declaration, which had diverted state resources to pandemic response since March 2020. The project — IowaCovidData.com — is intended to pull together in one place for Iowans as much of the same information as the state health department previously gathered on its website. (Des Moines Register)

Four Iowa hospital/system employees named to Business Record’s 2022 Forty Under 40 class

The Business Record has announced the 23rd annual list of Forty Under 40 honorees. These 40 local business leaders, who were chosen by past award winners, are under the age of 40 and have demonstrated impressive career achievements and unparalleled community involvement. Together, they join 880 past Business Record Forty Under 40 honorees to bring the total number of honorees to 920 since the Business Record began the awards in 2000. Each of the honorees will be profiled in the March 25 edition of the Business Record and recognized at an event on March 30. (Business Record)

National news

Justice Department sues to block UnitedHealth Group acquisition of Change Healthcare

The Justice Department filed a civil lawsuit to block UnitedHealth Group’s proposed acquisition of Change Healthcare, a $13 billion deal the federal government says would hurt competition in commercial health insurance markets. Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealth announced in January 2021 plans to buy the Nashville-based company in hopes of augmenting the lineup of health care information and technology products in its OptumInsight division. But the Justice Department, along with the attorneys general in Minnesota and New York, argue the combination would hurt the market for technology that health insurers use to process claims and reduce health care costs. (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

An $80,000 surprise bill points to a loophole in a new law to protect patients

Patients who need prompt lifesaving treatment often don’t have time to find an in-network hospital. In the past, health plans sometimes have said they would pay for emergency care even if it’s out of network. The No Surprises Act now makes this a legal requirement in every state. The provider and insurer are supposed to negotiate a reasonable payment, leaving the patient out of the equation. But what if the insurance company denies the care is for an emergency? Or the hospital doesn’t supply the paperwork to prove it? (National Public Radio)

Looks like non-mRNA vaccines can be as good as Pfizer and Moderna in certain scenarios

More than 20 COVID vaccines are in use globally, and among them, mRNA vaccines have been believed to offer the best protection against severe disease. A new study challenges this notion, showing that other vaccines can be as effective as mRNA shots when given to people who’ve had a prior SARs-CoV-2 infection. The findings could be especially important for countries where non-mRNA vaccines are more readily available. (National Public Radio)

Become a hospital advocate. Sign up for IHA Action Alerts.

Click here