February 9, 2012

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Iowa Hospital Association report shows a growing health care industry

February 4, 2012 By

An annual report released this week shows Iowa’s 118 community hospitals employ more than 136,000 people and add nearly $6.2 billion to the state’s economy.

Scott McIntyre, spokesman for the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA), says the health care industry in Iowa is growing – in part – because of the state’s aging population.

“We have a disproportionately old population here in Iowa…folks over 65 and folks over 85 and they do use more health care than younger people do,” McIntyre said. The economic impact report from the IHA claims Iowa’s health care sector directly or indirectly provide more than 333,000 jobs in the state.

“That’s equal to about 20% of the state’s total employment,” McIntyre said. “It’s not just hospitals that create all these opportunities and this huge economic impact across the state. It’s also doctor’s offices, dentists, other practitioners, pharmacies and nursing homes.”

The report states Iowa hospital employees by themselves spend $1.7 billion on retail sales and contribute more than $104 million in state sales tax revenue.

See the full report here: www.ihaonline.org/infoservices/econimpact/econimpact.shtml

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News

Heart Association says heart disease drops to #2 killer of men and women

February 3, 2012 By

We see plenty of red Valentine’s Day hearts during February, but Iowans are also encouraged to think about their real heart beating in their chests. This is National Heart Month and Alexson Callahan, with the American Heart Association of Central Iowa, says heart health is vital for all of us.

“Nationwide, heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women but here in Iowa, it’s actually dropped, so it’s #2 here, which is great,” Callahan says. “We’re leading the way and with the governor’s initiative to become the healthiest state in the nation, there’s a lot of resources out there for people right now. It doesn’t have to cost a lot of money to move more, eat better and be healthier.”

Callahan says heart disease is an especially great threat to Iowa’s women. “A lot of people don’t realize, in fact, just one in six women know that heart disease is her biggest health threat,” she says. “Eighty-percent of heart attacks in women are preventable so we’re really trying to work towards getting women to make healthier choices.”

Events are underway in many Iowa locations this month to promote heart health. Learn more at “heart.org“.

By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News

Branstad says elected officials should “lead by example” on health insurance costs

February 3, 2012 By

Governor Terry Branstad says he along with other statewide elected officials and all 150 members of the legislature should start paying for 20 percent of the health care coverage state taxpayers now provide them.

“If you look at most private sector (companies), employees pay at least 20 percent,” Branstad says. “Some pay more than that and, obviously, if you’re a farmer or self-employed, you pay 100 percent.”

For the second year in a row, Republican legislators have proposed requiring all 45,000 state employees, including legislators, pay $200 per month toward their health care coverage. Branstad says that’s unlikely to happen as it would require re-opening union contract negotiations. He suggests legislators should pass his alternative plan this year.

“I do think it would make sense for those of us that are elected officials and legislators to pay at least 20 percent of our health insurance,” Branstad says. “I think we could lead by example by doing something like that.”

According to Branstad, 84 percent of state employees — and that includes him and legislators — currently pay nothing toward their health insurance.

“I think that’s just and that needs to be corrected,” Branstad says, “and I want to do what I can to see that that happens.”

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, U.S. citizens who received health care coverage through a private employer in 2006 paid nearly $3000 out of their own pockets to cover over a third of the premium costs.

Filed Under: Featured Story, Health & Medicine, News, Politics & Government Tagged With: , , , ,

Church affiliated hospitals upset over healthcare decision, Harkin responds (audio)

February 3, 2012 By

A decision by the Obama Administration that forces church affiliated employers to cover birth control in their healthcare plans has outraged religious organizations across the country. The ruling means church affiliated hospitals such as Sioux City’s Mercy Medical Center would be force to pay for insurance that covers contraceptives and sterilization.

Mercy spokesman, Jim Wharton, says the decision makes no sense. “A Baptist hospital, a Catholic hospital, whatever, it would no longer be considered a religious employer, which means we lose the right to exercise what we call our conscious clause. Where if it’s something that’s totally contrary to what our principles and beliefs are we still have to violate our conscience to abide by a government regulation to provide these services,” Wharton says.

Wharton says the organizations that don’t abide by the new mandate risk losing millions of dollars in federal funds. “Every hospital in America for the most part, is dependent on Medicare and now they’re saying if you want the money you have to play by these new rules,” Wharton says.

“The problem is, the rules are unfair….We’re 125 years old, we’re founded on the beliefs of the Catholic faith and for us to be told that you have to do things that are contrary to our faith, we think is a violation of our First Amendment rights.” The new rules would take effect in August of 2013.

Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, a Democrat, was asked about the issue during his weekly conference call with reporters. Harkin says he thought they had crafted the healthcare law to allow an exemption for individuals.

“I do believe that if you are broadly hiring , that you should provide broad insurance coverage, which would include contraceptive services,” Harkin says. “But if there is someone in the employ for that religious institution who is conscience bound not to do that, then they should be able exempt out of that portion of the health insurance coverage.”

Harkin was asked by a reporter from Carroll, where there is a Catholic hospital, if he supported the “first amendment right of Catholics to not offer birth control to workers.”

“I didn’t say that…I’m saying if they’re going to offer insurance broadly based…then they should offer these services too, but then I want to be protective of an individual, and an individual’s conscience on what he or she may have to do,” Harkin replied.

Harkin says there are many cases in society where people are compelled to pay for things that they don’t like. He cites as an example, the Quaker religion which does not support war, but it’s members pay taxes that support the military. “And the Supreme Court has upheld that in the past, so this is not the only case where religion has run into important public policy. I think the Quakers also have a legitimate gripe from their taxes being paid and going to support military wars and things,” Harkin says.

Audio : Harkin remarks on healthcare issue 4:38.

House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, is already calling on the Obama administration to reconsider the order, calling it a government mandate that violates the constitution.

Woody Gottburg, KSCJ, Sioux City also contributed to this story.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News, Politics & Government, Religion Tagged With: , ,

Renewed debate of medical marijuana

February 1, 2012 By

It’s illegal to smoke marijuana for medical reasons in Iowa, but a proposal in the legislature would put up another hurdle to the idea.

A three-member subcommittee has signed off on the legislation, which removes any possibility that the state’s Board of Pharmacy could let Iowa pharmacies start dispensing marijuana for the treatment of pain and other maladies. Dale Woolery of the Governor’s Office on Drug Control Policy says the move sends the right message.

“I certainly am compassionate when it comes to people who are suffering. I have people in my family who suffer from a variety of ailments,” Woolery says. “But I also have kids and I have grandkids now, two grandkids, and I have to look them in the eye.”

Critics like Marty Ryan of the Justice Reform Coalition say the bill is redundant.

“This is pretty much a do nothing bill as far as we’re concerned,” Ryan says. “It’s really not going do anything except prevent the research that could be done on marijuana.”

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has debated the issue of medical marijuana for the past few years and some senators have publicly said they support the idea of letting doctors prescribe marijuana if they believe it would be better for their patients than pills. A member of the Iowa House, however, is pushing for this bill that would set up another roadblock to medical marijuana.

Representative Clel Baudler of Greenfield went to California on what he called a “fact-finding” mission last year. He claimed to be suffering from hemorrhoids and was issued a prescription for marijuana, which Baudler says he got to illustrate how “asinine” the system is. Advocates of medical marijuana filed an ethics complaint against Baudler over that episode, but the complaint was dismissed.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Health & Medicine, News, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Former NFL player talks to kids about eating healthy, exercise

January 31, 2012 By

Former NFL receiver Eddie Kennison exercises with Des Moines elementary kids.

A former pro football great joined Governor Terry Branstad at a Des Moines elementary school today to talk to kids about the importance of eating healthy foods and exercising.

Branstad told the children at Capitol View Elementary that the NFL’s “Fuel Up to Play 60” program will help his administration’s goals for the state.

“We aim to be the healthiest state in the nation within the next five years,” Branstad told the school kids. He and other state officials signed a pledge to show their support for the program, now in place in more than 1,100 schools across Iowa.

“We are working together to make our state healthier every day and the effects are being felt by Iowans of all ages,” Branstad said.

 ”It’s really exciting to see the commitment you’ve made, right here, at Capitol View Elementary.” The Fuel Up Play 60 program encourages kids to consume “nutrient-rich” foods and be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day.

Eddie Kennison

The program is backed by the National Football League and the National Dairy Council. Former NFL wide receiver Eddie Kennison shared some of his nutrition secrets.

“The thing that I found out to work best for my body after a workout is chocolate milk,” Kennison said. “Once you go through a tough workout, I encourage you guys to drink chocolate milk because it has more of the antioxidants and natural fuel you need to put in your body…better than a lot of the other drinks that are out there.”

Kennison was a first round draft pick by the St. Louis Rams in 1996. He played 13 seasons in the NFL and had his best years with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kennison is pulling for the New England Patriots to beat the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

A former teammate of Kennison’s in Kansas City, Brian Waters, now plays for the Patriots. Waters, an offensive guard, was let go by the Chiefs earlier this season. Kennison said he’s “kind of torn” about which team to root for because he also was a teammate of Lawrence Tynes in Kansas City.

Tynes is now the kicker for the Giants, but Kennison said he’s pulling for Waters and the Patriots because Tynes already won a Super Bowl with the Giants in 2008.

Filed Under: Education, Health & Medicine, News, Recreation & Entertainment Tagged With: ,

Woman says fitness program saved her life

January 30, 2012 By

A central Iowa woman who weighed more than 500 pounds says her life was saved by a local fitness program. Radio Iowa’s Matt Kelley reports:  Audio  :47

Fifty-year-old Cherubim Hurdle of Pleasant Hill was injured a few years ago and put on so much weight, she could hardly walk. “I was actually afraid to do anything because I was afraid I’d hurt myself,” Hurdle says. “All of that time, I was just dieting. I wasn’t exercising.” She says a bad situation got worse over the months.

“I injured my leg, went to the doctor, she had a scale that said 420,” Hurdle says. “I topped the scale and went over and she told me I weighed about 500. It really scared the life out of me, but you can be afraid and still not be able to fix the problem.” Hurdle and her younger sister joined Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping in Des Moines together and dove into the FIT Start program.

It involves kickboxing and “bands of strength” six days a week for ten weeks. “Because of how heavy I am, my ankles and my feet would hurt so I found walking impossible,” Hurdle says. “I was so surprised I could actually go to class and work out for 45 minutes and do kickboxing, we have these bags that you kick and you do it at your own pace.”

She’s under 400 pounds now but her goal is to get under 200. Still, she says it’s not just the pounds that are relevant. “I used to be weak and sick and because of my leg, I couldn’t get out,” Hurdle says. “I’m slowly getting stronger and I’m losing dress sizes and getting into smaller pants.”

Hurdle was one of the first participants to successfully complete the FIT Start program. The program is being rolled out by one of Iowa’s largest medical providers, Iowa Health, as a way to cut the number of morbidly obese patients who seek gastric bypass surgery, which can be risky and expensive.

 The goal is for Iowa Health patients to drop their plans for bypass surgery and instead, improve their health the natural way.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News
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