Iowa news
An Iowa high schooler invented an infection-detecting suture. Now she’s a CEO
Dasia Taylor is one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, a recognition of women who have made a significant impact in their communities. This achievement stems from her groundbreaking invention she debuted in prestigious science fairs nationwide: a medical suture that uses beet juice to indicate when surgical wounds have become infected. Taylor isn’t just a college student, but the founder and CEO of VariegateHealth, an inclusion-focused medical device company, and the face of her own “head nerd brand,” for which she uses hands-on innovation workshops to encourage kids to take an interest in science and live authentically. (Des Moines Register)
Alzheimer’s Association sees demand continue to increase for caregivers in Iowa
A new report from the Alzheimer’s Association predicts a worsening shortage of family and professional caregivers in Iowa as more people are diagnosed and more caregivers quit. Iowa chapter spokeswoman Lauren Livingston says there’s already a high demand for direct care workers, which includes nurse aides, nursing assistants and home health aides. By 2030 nationwide, the U.S. will need more than a million more of these direct care workers, and Iowa will need to see an increase of more than 30%. (Iowa Public Radio)
15 states receive grants to plan certified community behavioral health clinics
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration awarded 15 states, including Iowa, $1 million grants to plan and apply to participate in Medicaid’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic demonstration. Authorized by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022 to expand the eight-state Medicaid demonstration, the administration expects to announce a second funding round in fiscal year 2024. (American Hospital Association)
National news
Sanofi announces insulin price cap after actions by Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk
Sanofi will cap the out-of-pocket cost of its most popular insulin, Lantus, at $35 per month for people with private insurance. The change will take effect Jan. 1, 2024. Sanofi is the last of three major insulin makers in the United States to cut or cap the price of the drug. (NBC News)
As birth rates increase, OB-GYN shortage worsens
Preliminary data from the American Association of Medical Colleges shows that 2023 applications for the OB-GYN residencies have fallen from 2022. Uncertainty about where and how to practice since Roe v. Wade was overturned may be a factor in the decline. As maternal deaths rise, centers end obstetrics care and fewer enter the specialty, preterm birth rates, cesarean delivery and low birth weights are all increasing. OB-GYNs warn that if the shortage isn’t addressed, the problem will only become worse. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
After years of medical progress, American children are now less likely to reach adulthood
Child and teen deaths surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by fatal injuries, in a dramatic change after decades of progress from medical advancements in pediatric diseases. For decades, the death rate among Americans 19 and younger has been steadily decreasing because of breakthroughs in prevention and treatment for conditions like premature births, pediatric cancer and birth defects. But these new findings represent a reversal in this trend, meaning children are now less likely to reach adulthood. (USA Today)