Today’s NewsStand

Today’s NewsStand

By siglerr|
|April 20, 2023

Iowa news

Eastern Iowa Health Center launches multilingual vaccine campaign, transportation service

As the federal emergency pandemic declaration ends, there are still swathes of underserved populations who have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or the updated bivalent booster, designed to be more effective against newer strains of the coronavirus. A new ad campaign launched this spring by the Eastern Iowa Health Center in Swahili, Spanish and African French aims to reach them in their native language wherever they are watching TV or streaming content. Besides trust-building through interpreters, advocates and diverse faith community leaders, the center hopes to counter skepticism and connect better with clients by speaking their languages. (The Gazette)

Iowa awards $13.5M to build health care career pipeline

The pool for potential nursing home workers in Iowa just grew by more than 300, thanks to state grants created to build a health care career pipeline. Iowa Workforce Development announced the second round of grants through its Health Careers Registered Apprenticeship Program with a total of $13.5 million awarded to 21 health care and education entities. The program will support 1,463 apprentices. (McKnights Long-Term Care News)

University of Iowa hospitals opens short-stay unit to help with crowding

Crowding and capacity needs continue to stress the main University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, compelling administrators to expand the emergency department, reorganize existing services and now open a new short-stay unit. UIHC have opened a new 30-room short-term unit aimed at freeing up patient beds for sicker patients, streamlining the hospital experience for short-term patients requiring observation before heading home and allowing providers to focus on either critical-care or short-term needs. Looking long term at the capacity strain, UIHC is planning a massive new patient tower and, more immediately, a $37 million two-story expansion of its emergency room which is set to begin this summer. (The Gazette)

National news

Another COVID-19 booster is now approved for older people and those at high risk

People 65 and older and those who are immunocompromised are now eligible for another COVID-19 booster shot. The Food and Drug Administration changed the authorization for boosters from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech to allow them to be given a second time to people whose protection against COVID-19 likely fades quickly. For healthy, younger people, new boosters are not yet needed, the agency said, promising to make a recommendation for them early this summer. The new ruling allows people over 65 to get another booster at least four months after their previous one and people with some immunocompromising conditions to get boosters as often as every two months, at their physician’s recommendation. (Des Moines Register)

AHA supports bipartisan bill to protect health care workers from violence

AHA applauded the reintroduction of the Safety From Violence for Health Care Employees Act (H.R. 2584), bipartisan legislation that would give health care workers the same legal protections against assault and intimidation that flight crews and airport workers have under federal law. The bill also would establish a federal grant program at the Department of Justice to augment hospitals’ efforts to reduce violence, by funding violence prevention training programs, coordination with state and local law enforcement, and physical plant improvements, such as metal detectors and panic buttons. (American Hospital Association)

The end of the public health emergency: 3 things on the health payments horizon

During the past few years of the pandemic, we’ve seen considerable changes in the health care payments landscape. Now, with President Biden announcing a decision to end the public health emergency in May, more changes are on the horizon. Effects on coverage, evolving patient payments landscape and how providers can stay nimble are key health payment items that will be affected in the wake of the end of the public health emergency. (Becker’s Hospital Review)

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

Click here