Iowa news
Iowa leaders form coalition to advocate for lower prescription drug costs
Business and health care leaders, policy experts and patient advocacy groups are forming the PBM Accountability Project of Iowa to advocate for lower prescription drug prices. The members share a mission to ensure patients pay no more than necessary for medications and to protect small businesses and Iowans’ right to make informed health care decisions. Pharmacy benefit managers are third-party companies that act as intermediaries between insurance companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers. The PBM Accountability Project will advocate for state and federal policies that promote accountability and prevent what it considers to be predatory practices. (Business Record)
$250 million regional medical campus planned in Urbandale
A central Iowa radiologist plans to develop a regional medical campus in Urbandale that provides preventive and diagnostic services as well as treatment. The campus, which will be called Total Health Experience, is planned on 25.3 acres north of Interstate Highways 35/80 in Urbandale. When completed, the campus will include up to six buildings and up to 300,000 square feet of space. Development costs are estimated at between $200 million and $250 million. The campus will provide medical care from primary care physicians and medical subspecialties as well as services focused on preventive medicine, wellness and behavioral/mental health (Business Record)
Two Des Moines universities partner to expand health care career pathways
Des Moines University and Grand View University will partner to create enhanced pathways for Grand View students interested in pursuing medical and health sciences careers. This collaboration seeks to benefit students while also contributing to the development of Iowa’s health care workforce. The partnership offers two options based on the programs students wish to pursue. For certain programs, a concurrent degree plan is available, allowing qualifying Grand View students to earn credits simultaneously from both institutions. This arrangement applies to DMU’s Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Master of Health Care Administration and Master of Public Health. By completing coursework at DMU alongside their bachelor’s degree studies at Grand View, students can obtain both degrees more efficiently. Additionally, the DMU occupational therapy program reserves three seats each year for Grand View students. (Business Record)
National news
Why Americans are turning to ‘Doctor Walmart,’ Amazon, Dollar General for health care
Americans are increasingly turning to “Doctor Walmart” and other retail health care clinics as they seek convenient care and trust large retailers with their health data,. Walmart has opened more than 30 health centers since 2019, with plans to more than double by next year, joining other retail health care competitors including Amazon, CVS, Dollar General and Walgreens. These retailers are betting on an increase in value-based care, where providers make more money if they keep patients healthy and out of the hospital (The Economist)
Amazon launches $100M generative AI center, targeting health care
Amazon debuted a $100 million generative artificial intelligence center June 22 to help customers harness the new technology. The AWS Generative AI Innovation Center will connect AI and machine learning experts with the company’s cloud clients to build generative AI products and services. Health care and life sciences customers, for instance, might use generative AI for drug research and discovery, Amazon noted. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Some hospitals are one ransomware attack away from closing
Cyberattacks on hospitals can lead to serious implications for patient safety and privacy, but could force many hospitals in precarious financial positions to close their doors for good. Health care facilities have been hit with 266 digital incursions affecting 36 million people this year, with 2023 on track to exceed the number of cyberattacks last year, according to John Riggi, the national adviser for cybersecurity and risk at the American Hospital Association. The costs and time taken to recover from a ransomware attack — which are becoming increasingly sophisticated — can be significant. Cyberattacks against hospitals, specifically, have tripled in the last five years. (Bloomberg)