Iowa news
Crawford County Memorial Hospital created $67 million impact on local economy
Last year, Crawford County Memorial Hospital generated 550 jobs, both direct and indirect, that added $67 million to the Crawford County economy. This figure represents just over 9% of the entire gross domestic product for the entire county. Of the $67 million economic impact, over $38 million dollars in direct and indirect wages were paid, which represents more than 12.5% of all wages paid in Crawford County. At the same time, those 550 jobs, both direct and indirect, made up almost 8.5% of all jobs in the county. (Denison Bulletin-Review)
Dallas County Hospital has $12 million impact on local economy
Last year the Dallas County Hospital generated 232 jobs that added $12,222,787 to Dallas County’s economy. Dallas County Hospital also supported approximately 40,000 patients in the community by providing $1,250,000 in community benefits. This support helped to ensure that cost did not prohibit these individuals from accessing care at the hospital. (The Perry News)
Washington County Hospital and Clinics opens ‘The Hub’
Washington County Hospital and Clinics opened a new off-site operations center in Washington. The new location, named WCHC North or “The Hub” for short, will house WCHC’s patient financial services, health information management and rural health clinic central scheduling employees. (Southeast Iowa Union)
National news
Long COVID-19 symptoms create a greater burden of disability than heart disease or cancer
People who survived COVID-19 early in the pandemic, before there were vaccines, continued to be at higher risk for a slew of health problems for up to two years after they got over their initial infections, a new study finds, and that was especially true if they were hospitalized. These health problems include heart problems, blood clots, diabetes, neurologic complications, fatigue and difficulties with mental health and have come to be known collectively as long COVID-19. (CNN)
Congress puts the community benefit standard for nonprofit hospitals under the microscope
The criteria that establish hospitals’ tax-exempt status are coming under closer scrutiny, with a bipartisan quartet of senators asking the IRS to ramp up its oversight of compliance with the community benefit standard. Sens. Bill Cassidy, M.D., (R-La.), Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent an Aug. 7 letter to the IRS citing examples that purportedly show some not-for-profit hospitals “may not be fulfilling their required obligation to provide reduced or free care to their most vulnerable patients.” (Healthcare Financial Management Association)
Adderall shortages are dragging on. Can video games help?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Drug Enforcement Administration joined forces to face the ongoing Adderall shortage. The agencies reassured the public that they are looking into potential alternatives to stimulant medications. On suggestion: video games. In a joint statement, the agencies acknowledged that while they were actively working with the pharmaceutical industry to address the shortages, the FDA did approve a “game based digital therapeutic” to address ADHD symptoms in children back in 2020. This summer, digital medicine company Akili Interactive dropped the first “over-the-counter” digital therapeutic for managing ADHD symptoms in adults, using the same technology underlying their previously FDA-approved prescription video game for kids. (Wired)