Reynolds reiterates support for workforce issues in 2023
Gov. Kim Reynolds convened a virtual public budget hearing Thursday, Dec. 15. The annual meeting was an open forum tallowing Iowans to provide feedback about the state budget. Gov. Reynolds acknowledged her support for tort reform identifying it as a 2023 legislative session priority.
IHA board member and Cass Health CEO Brett Altman and the IHA advocacy team expressed their appreciation during the meeting for the 2022 legislature’s commitment to tort reform and workforce issues and continuing that work in 2023.
“We are grateful that Gov. Reynolds and the entire executive branch are well aligned with IHA and are supportive of our legislative priorities," said Altman. "The governor supports tort reform, workforce issues, mental health, maternal health and many other critical issues we are facing in health care.”
Bills passed in 2022 funding workforce initatives included:
- The Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program administered through IowaWorks.
- The Mental Health Professional Loan Repayment Program administered by Iowa College Aid.
- The Primary Care Provider Loan Repayment Program administered through the Iowa Department of Public Health.The Rural Iowa Primary Care Loan Repayment Program administered through the Iowa Department of Public Health.
IHA thanks Gov. Reynolds and the legislature for their leadership and is looking forward to advancing hospital priorities in 2023.
Doug Cropper, Genesis Health System president and CEO, to retire
Doug Cropper, president and CEO of Genesis Health System and member of the IHA Board of Officers and Trustees, will retire June 2023 after 14 years with the health system. Cropper was a member of the IHA Board of Officers and Trustees from 2016-2018 and was appointed again in 2022.
Cropper will be replaced by Kurt Andersen, M.D., in June 2023. Dr. Andersen is the chief clinical and chief medical officer for Genesis Health System. He began in 1997 as a resident in the Genesis Quad Cities Family Medicine Residency Program. During his time with Genesis, Dr. Andersen also was a family practice provider and an executive for Genesis Health Group.
Register for nursing services webinar
Nursing services are a critical part of hospital operations. The third of IHA’s 2023 regulatory webinars will focus on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ nursing services conditions of participation. Nancy Ruzicka, a consultant on state and federal compliance, will lead the webinar.
Participants will discuss:
- Basic nursing care plans.
- CMS regulations for medicine orders.
- Medicine administration timing.
- Minimum nurse staffing requirements.
The Nursing Services Conditions of Participation webinar is scheduled from 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Feb. 23. Email Tori Hanson at IHA with questions.
Government prepares for increased winter COVID-19 infections
The Department of Health and Human Services is recommending states prepare for a potential further increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations this winter. In anticipation, HHS has N-95 masks, gloves, gowns and ventilators in strategic locations should states need them. The administration also announced U.S. households now can order four more free at-home COVID-19 tests. The tests will begin shipping Monday, Dec. 19.
AHA releases toolkit to promote flu, COVID-19 vaccines
The American Hospital Association is helping hospitals and health organizations promote COVID-19 and flu vaccines. The United Against Flu campaign comes amid increasing pediatric and adult hospitalization rates for flu and COVID-19. The AHA released a new social media toolkit as part of the campaign to help health care organizations encourage their communities to get vaccinated, including receiving the updated COVID-19 booster.