A new report finds over 300-thousand senior citizens in rural Iowa do NOThave access to a health maintenance organization, or H-M-O. Ron Pollack, executive director of Families U-S-A — a national consumerwatch-dog group, says his organization’s report is intended to spur debateas Congress considers re-doing Medicare. The leading alternative is to establish a competitive system among H-M-O’s to save money in the Medicareprogram.Pollack says since there are NO H-M-O’s in rural Iowa, the state’s elderlyrural residents depend on the traditional Medicare program.Pollack says Iowa’s elderly are, in essence, discriminated against becausebig city H-M-O’s which serve Medicare recipients offer prescription drugcoverage — and sometimes a health club membership.Pollack says the Medicare program pays a lower amount of money for medicalservices provided in rural areas.”Families U-S-A” released a report this morning which showed there are noH-M-Os available to rural residents in 13 states, including Iowa, Kansas,Nebraska and South Dakota. In another 14 states, rural residents had accessto only one H-M-O.
Congressman says Kosovo situation not getting any better
Iowa’s Fifth District Congressman traveled to Kosovo over the August holidayto review safety concerns in the war-torn region.Congressman Tom Latham says there is still ethnic cleansing going on, onlythe situation’s been reversed.Latham predicts U-S involvement in the region for a long, long time. Hesays it will be extremely difficult to guarantee the security of Kosovoresidents, or U-S military personnel.
Latham says Ag aid package is bogging down
The emergency aid package for farmers is getting bogged down in Congressaccording to Congressman Tom Latham. It will be at least next week before a special Congressional committee isassembled to review the aid package and strike a deal with negotiators fromthe Senate. Latham says in addition to other ag issues, the fight is overthe budget.On another ag-related issue, Latham says he plans to push for legislationwhich would ban meatpacker ownership of livestock.Latham’s family owns a seed business in Alexander.
Computers work on through 9-9-99
This is 9/9/99 — and the date has not proven to be the computer snafu somepredicted. Utiltiy companies were on alert overnight in case computerscrashed. 9/9/99 was used as a stop code in some old computer programs. Iowa State University Y-2-K specialist Rob Mucherjea (mook-er-jay) says itwasn’t that big a deal.Mucherjea says his university will soon be done with its Y-2-K fix-upprojects.
Jean company plans to close 4 Iowa plants
A major manufacturer in the Sioux City area is closing the doors on its fourIowa plants. The Aalfs blue jean company will close its Iowa operations in Novemberputting 500 workers out of a job. The company is closing plants in SiouxCity, Le Mars, Sheldon, Spencer and Yankton, South Dakota. The Sioux Cityplant employs 225. Aalfs officials say they can’t recruit and retain enoughworkers. They also says they’re having trouble competing in the blue jeanmarket. The company says it will keep its outlet store open in Sioux City.
Ogden native ready for intra-state showdown
The Iowa State-Iowa game is always meaningful for the players but especiallyfor those that grew up in the state. Iowa State sophomore tight end MikeBanks of Ogden says he has noticed the intensity this week in practice. Junior free safety Dustin Avey from Ames says last year’s 27-9 Cyclonetriumph was great but it is history.The Cyclones are a three-point favorite but Avey says that means nothing.Junior defensive end Kevin DeRonde of Pella knows it will be a battle.
World War One vets honored
Three Iowa Veterans were posthumously awarded France’s Highest Honor in aceremoney Wednesday. Relatives of Louis Junge of Keystone, Jess Raddaof Washington and Jehrias Houts of Mount Vernon were on hand in Keystone toaccept the award.Jack Hackett is the public information officer for the VeteransAdministration. Hackett says the French Consul General from Chicago was onhand to present the medals. He says there’s one more ceremoney later thismonth.Hackett says the Iowa vets are among hundreds nationwide to receive thehonor.Junge was a cook in the Medical Corps in France. Radda was a bugler inthe Army who later played taps at an estimated 700 funerals for veterans.Houts was a member of the infantry who saw action in five battles. All threemen were over 100 years old when they died.
