Iowa news
Study finds fewer postpartum hospitalization in states expanding Medicaid
A new study has found states that have expanded Medicaid eligibility saw fewer postpartum hospitalizations. The study, which was published in the journal Health Affairs this week, compared hospital data from 2010 to 2017 for four states that expanded Medicaid and four that didn’t. One of those states was Iowa, which expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2014. The study found the states that adopted the expansion had 17% fewer hospitalizations for mothers and babies up to 60 days postpartum. State data show that 41% of Iowa births in 2021 were funded by Medicaid. (Iowa Public Radio)
Mercy Cedar Rapids hosting anti-human trafficking global initiative
Mercy Cedar Rapids will be hosting an anti-human trafficking global initiative later this month. Mercy is partnering with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) and Chains Interrupted to host the symposium on Jan. 24, titled, “Barriers Faced by Sex Trafficking Survivors.” This hybrid event will feature a panel of survivors and advocates. They will discuss the barriers survivors face trying to leave the life of sex trafficking, as well as the barriers they face once they are out of the life – in mental health, financial health, the criminal justice system, the healthcare industry and more. (KGAN)
Fentanyl – the deadly drug impacting Iowans
According to the Iowa Department of Public Health, drug overdose deaths in Iowa have climbed 34% between 2019 and 2021. Among Iowans age 25 and younger, overdose death surged by 120%. More Iowans are dying of fentanyl-related overdoses than ever before, Iowa health and public safety officials said, which is why the state launched a campaign encouraging Iowans to avoid counterfeit pills. (Fort Dodge Messenger)
National news
988 Lifeline sees boost in use and funding in first months
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline received over 1.7 million calls, texts and chats in its first five months. That's nearly half a million more than the old 10-digit Suicide Prevention Lifeline fielded during the same period the year before. Launched in mid-July last year, the 988 number is modeled on the 911 system and is designed to be a memorable and quick number that connects people who are suicidal or in any other mental health crisis to a trained mental health professional. (National Public Radio)
Pregnant people with COVID-19 face higher death risk
An international analysis found pregnant people with COVID-19 have a seven times higher risk of dying and greater risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit, needing a ventilator or developing pneumonia, The Washington Post reported Jan. 16. The meta-analysis, published in BMJ Global Health, followed more than 13,000 pregnant individuals from 12 studies across 12 countries, including the U.S. The analysis found not only increased risks for the pregnant individuals, but that their babies were also twice as likely to need treatment in the intensive care unit after birth and had increased risk of being born preterm. (Becker’s Hospital Review)
More Americans than ever putting off medical care because of cost
The percentage of Americans who postponed medical care payments because of cost has grown in the past year according to a new Gallup poll. The poll found that 38% of respondents said they have put off scheduled medical payments because of cost, a 12-point increase from the past two years. (The Hill)