Iowa news New cases decline and more Iowans are getting boosters This is the fifth consecutive week that Iowa has reported fewer cases than the week before, according to the weekly data release. Over the past seven days, Iowa has averaged 265 new reported cases, down from 299 per day

Iowa news Supreme Court declines 10 states’ challenge to CMS’ vaccine mandate The U.S. Supreme Court has declined a case brought by 10 states, including Iowa, challenging the Biden administration’s rule that requires employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they work in health care facilities that receive federal funding.

Iowa news MercyOne Newton asks county for $2M donation MercyOne Newton Medical Center may receive American Rescue Plan Act funds from Jasper County to go toward facility improvements. During the Sept. 27 county board of supervisors meeting, Chad Kelley, director of operations for MercyOne Newton, requested the hospital at least

Iowa news New COVID-19 cases drop 60% since start of September The COVID-19 pandemic continued to recede in Iowa over the past week. New reported COVID-19 cases dropped nearly 30% week over the week, the state health department said. There were 2,091 new cases reported this week, or an average

Iowa news MercyOne says Sioux City hospital in ‘full compliance’ with CMS vaccination requirements MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center said it is in “full compliance” with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements for COVID-19 vaccination of staff. Documents posted to the Iowa Department of Inspection and Appeals’ website showed MercyOne

Iowa news Nursing home residents are in a ‘precarious position’ A Nebraska bank has told a federal judge that the proposed new owner of an Iowa nursing home chain has left the elderly residents of those facilities in a “precarious position.” Lincoln Savings Bank is asking the judge for the

Iowa news Flu season may be really bad in Iowa this year. Here’s why, and how to protect yourself Iowa could be in for a rough flu season this year, health officials say. Seasonal influenza is unpredictable, but indicators show this year’s strain of the respiratory virus could be severe.

Iowa news New website aims to help Iowans find treatment for opioid use disorder Using funds from settlements with companies at the center of the nation’s opioid epidemic, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office launched IowaOpioidHelp.com. The website has a list of providers contracted with the state to offer treatment options for

Iowa news COVID has killed nearly 10,000 Iowans. That’s not the whole story. As of the last official count Wednesday, 9,994 Iowans officially have died from the coronavirus, according to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. The massive death toll helped drop Iowa’s average life expectancy 1.5 years

Iowa news Iowa health system receives $753K grant for Epic EHR install Washington County Hospital and Clinics has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for approximately $753,000. All the funds will go toward implementing a new electronic health record system from Epic Systems. The grant is not

Iowa news Iowa among states with greatest ‘brain drains’ Small, rural states are hit hardest by college-educated graduates moving away, and Iowa ranks 10th among states with the highest percentage of college graduate losses. This “brain drain” analysis was conducted by economists at the University of North Carolina, the W.E.

Iowa news Waukee City Council approves financial incentives for Iowa Clinic specialty, surgery center The Iowa Clinic is looking to add a third Waukee location and the city is offering nearly $1.7 million to make it happen. The physician-owned chain of clinics and urgent care centers is slated to be