Iowa news
UnityPoint reports surge of RSV in kids amid COVID-19 pandemic
Cases of respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are climbing among children. The surge comes as kids head back to school and cases of the COVID-19 delta variant climb. Pediatricians say the typical respiratory illness season came early. (KWQC)
Iowa public health officials concerned, exasperated as COVID-19 surges again
With cases and hospitalizations spiking once again — despite the availability of a vaccine — Iowa is experiencing its third significant surge of the 18-month COVID-19 pandemic. The virus’ latest trajectory has public health officials across the state expressing grave concern — and a little bit of exasperation. (The Courier)
Howard County hospital enacts new visitor restrictions
With COVID-19 cases on the rise once again across Iowa, hospitals are starting to reevaluate their visitor policies. The hospital in Cresco is taking a page out of last year’s COVID-19 restrictions. (KWWL)
National news
Biden administration plans for vaccine boosters, perhaps by fall
With a stockpile of at least 100 million doses at the ready, Biden administration officials are developing a plan to start offering coronavirus booster shots to some Americans as early as this fall even as researchers continue to hotly debate whether extra shots are needed, according to people familiar with the effort. The first boosters are likely to go to nursing home residents and health care workers, followed by other older people who were near the front of the line when vaccinations began late last year. (The New York Times)
Medicare holds off on hospital price disclosure fines for now
The Medicare agency is giving hospitals time to adjust to its price transparency rule, so far refraining from penalizing providers despite recently proposing to increase sanctions for those that don’t comply. Hospitals have been apprehensive since the Trump administration announced they would be required to disclose standard charges for items and services in a final rule (RIN 0938–AU22) published in November 2019. (Bloomberg Law)
Marietta, Ohio-based Memorial Health System is diverting some patients after a ransomware attack forced it to shut down its IT systems. Some clinical and financial operations have been temporarily disrupted, according to the report. All nonurgent surgical cases and radiology exams were canceled. (Becker’s Hospital Review)