Iowa news
Monkeypox vaccine available to certain residents in Polk County
The Polk County Health Department is offering monkeypox vaccines to eligible adults at highest risk for infection, with plans to open more appointments as doses become available. Residents with an increased likelihood of exposure to the virus can schedule vaccine appointments at the Polk County public health agency through Friday. Federal health officials announced in late July they were increasing the allocation of vaccine doses to states. So far, 1,441 doses have been shipped to Iowa, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Des Moines Register)
Some Iowa hospitals close beds as number of COVID-19 patients decrease
Despite Iowa’s increase in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, health care providers say it’s nowhere near as bad as it’s been. While demand for ER services continues to be high, what has decreased is the number of patients coming in with COVID-19. For example, of the 650-plus beds at UnityPoint Health-Des Moines, they have only closed or capped 40-50 beds. Closing these beds is because of less of demand and it helps the hospital retain staff. (KCCI)
MercyOne Clinton nurse receives scholarship to continue medical education
Kylee Sweenie, a nurse at MercyOne Clinton Medical Center, has been awarded a $3,500 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation, which is supported by the Iowa Hospital Association. She is among 60 students from Iowa who have received assistance this year from the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program. Sweenie is studying at St. Ambrose University pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. IHA established the IHERF Health Care Careers Scholarship Program in 2004 to help address the shortage of health care professionals and encourage young Iowans to establish or continue their careers with Iowa hospitals. The first scholarships were awarded in 2005 and now more than 685 students have benefited from the program. (Clinton Herald)
National news
Landmark bill’s cost-reduction efforts draw praise from health care groups
Groups across the health care industry had overall favorable reactions to a sweeping $739 billion bill passed by Senate Democrats that touches health care, energy and tax reform. The Inflation Reduction Act, which the House is expected to take up Aug. 12, would invest $64 billion to extend the Affordable Care Act’s federal health insurance subsidies through 2025. It also would allow Medicare to negotiate prices of a limited number of drugs with manufacturers and set a $2,000 a year limit on the amount people with Medicare Part D pay out-of-pocket for prescription medicines, among other provisions. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
A ‘staggering’ number of people couldn’t get care during the pandemic, poll finds
Among households that had a serious illness in the past year, one in five Harvard Opinion Research Program survey respondents said they had trouble accessing care during the pandemic. Other recent studies have found significant delays in cancer screenings, and disruptions in routine diabetes, pediatric and mental health care. Although it’s still early to know the long-term impacts on people’s health, researchers and physicians are concerned, especially as the disruptions continue with the country’s health care system struggling to bounce back from the pandemic. (National Public Radio)
COVID-19 hospitalizations dip after climbing for weeks
The number of Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 is seeing its first downward tick after steadily increasing from April through July. COVID-19 hospitalizations are down 1% nationwide over the last 14 days, with a daily average of 43,070 people hospitalized with COVID-19 as of Aug. 9, according to HHS data. Although hospitalizations are ticking downward nationally, the numbers are spotty at the state level. Hospitalizations are down in 25 states and Washington, D.C., flat in four states and up in 21 over the last 14 days. (Becker’s Hospital Review)