Iowa news
Iowa health departments to receive more doses of monkeypox vaccine
More doses of the monkeypox vaccine are headed to local health departments in Iowa. More than 13,000 Americans have tested positive for the disease since the start of the outbreak. Iowa has 2,641 doses available, according to a government website. The number of confirmed cases here in Iowa has grown to 15. Eight of those cases are in central Iowa. Meanwhile, New York and California have the highest number of cases. (KCCI)
How much could Iowans save in health care costs?
The White House last Thursday released state-specific estimates as to how much Americans stand to save in prescription drug and health care costs under the Inflation Reduction Act signed into law during the past week by President Joe Biden. According to the White House, the act will cap prescription drug costs for hundreds of thousands of Iowa Medicare beneficiaries, reduce health insurance premiums for tens of thousands of Iowans by about $1,170 per year on average, expand coverage to about 15,000 Iowans, and cap insulin co-payments for the tens of thousands of Iowa Medicare beneficiaries that use insulin. (The Courier)
14 doctors complete Physician Business Leadership Certification program
Fourteen Iowa physicians achieved their Physician Business Leadership Certifications after the final educational session at the Iowa Medical Society in Des Moines. The program, which is offered by the Iowa Hospital Association, Iowa Healthcare Collaborative, Iowa Medical Society and Iowa Academy of Family Physicians, is designed to help physicians gain the tools to become successful leaders. The physicians achieved their certifications by attending quarterly educational sessions and participating in peer-to-peer learning and discussion of best practices. Participants also received two 90-minute executive coaching sessions to develop self-awareness, understand blind spots and enhance their ability to improve their organizations’ cultures. (Business Record)
National news
Monkeypox cases jump 20% in one week, WHO finds
Global monkeypox cases increased by about 20% for the second week in a row, with nearly 7,500 new monkeypox cases reported last week, the World Health Organization said. More than 35,000 cases of monkeypox have now been reported to WHO, from 92 countries and territories, with 12 deaths. Almost 7,500 cases were reported last week. Most new cases continue to be reported among men who have sex with men. The U.S. accounts for more than 38 percent of global cases. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
Over half of people infected with the omicron variant didn’t know it, a study finds
Most people likely infected with the omicron variant that causes COVID-19 were not aware they contracted the virus, which likely played a role in the rapid spread of omicron. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai, a nonprofit health organization based in Los Angeles, examined the infectious status of individuals during the omicron surge in the U.S. Omicron was first detected in November 2021 and has become the most dominant strain of COVID-19. Common symptoms are typically less severe than other variants and include cough, headache, fatigue, sore throat and a runny nose, according to the researchers. (Iowa Public Radio)
U.S. to roll back coverage of COVID-19 vaccines, treatments starting this fall
The Biden administration is set to begin shifting costs of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments to the commercial market, ending the practice of the U.S. government purchasing the drugs and making them available at no cost. HHS is set to hold an Aug. 30 planning meeting with representatives from drugmakers, pharmacies and state health departments to discuss the change. Shifting how COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments are funded is expected to take months. (The Wall Street Journal)