A University of Iowa study finds automobile insurance premiums dropped in other states after they legalized medical marijuana, suggesting that driving while high may not be quite as dangerous as driving drunk. Cameron Ellis, a UI professor of finance, says they studied insurance data at the ZIP … [Read more...]
U-I professor says debt ceiling delay could impact Iowa healthcare
Federal lawmakers have yet to reach a deal on lifting the debt ceiling, which could impact some Iowans’ health care. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warns if lawmakers don't come to an agreement, the U.S. could be unable to pay its bills as soon as June 1st. Josephine Gittler, director of the … [Read more...]
Report: Suicide rates fell in Iowa while rising nationwide
Iowa appears to have bucked a national trend of rising suicide rates in recent years. While more people across the country took their own lives in 2021 compared to 2020, a report from a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization finds suicide rates dropped during that period in Iowa. Brandon Reavis is the … [Read more...]
Fort Dodge to have state’s first Safe Haven Baby Box
The Fort Dodge Fire Department will have the first "baby box" installed in Iowa. Last November, after a man and woman from Fort Dodge were charged in the death of their newborn, people in the community started working to get a "Safe Haven Baby Box" in Fort Dodge. Iowa's Safe Haven law lets … [Read more...]
Wildfire smoke is temporarily making Iowa’s air ‘unhealthy’ to breathe
It's not fog but smoke making the air hazy in parts of central Iowa this morning -- and you can smell the smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the Air Quality Index for the Des Moines metro is "unhealthy," and it's considered "unhealthy for sensitive … [Read more...]
Report ranks Iowa 20th for health of residents 65+
A new report ranks Iowa 20th in the nation for the overall health of older adults. The annual "America's Health Rankings" by the United Health Care Foundation looks at more than 50 factors that affect adults over the age of 64. It found Iowa seniors have low rates of food insecurity and mental … [Read more...]
Thousands could lose Medicaid coverage under state review
State officials say more than 3,000 Iowans are on track to lose their Medicaid coverage by June 1st. During the pandemic, the state was forbidden from dis-enrolling anyone from Medicaid except in limited circumstances. That rule ended last month, which is when Iowa Health and Human Services … [Read more...]
Iowa opioid reduction program involves rethinking pain treatment
A program underway in Iowa is using opioid settlement funds to provide opioid prevention toolkits for surgery patients as part of the "Billion Pill Pledge" that's designed to cut the use of prescription painkillers. Goldfinch Health is administering the program in conjunction with the Iowa … [Read more...]
U-I study: Rural Iowa hospitals are losing birthing centers at ‘striking’ rate
A University of Iowa study finds some pregnant women in rural Iowa quit getting prenatal care when their local hospital closes its birthing center, even if prenatal care is still available. Tom Gruca, a marketing professor in the U-I's Tippie College of Business, says they studied the impact of … [Read more...]
COVID outbreak hits Drake University
The Drake Relays is considered a possible source of an outbreak of COVID-19. What's billed as America's Athletic Classic is considered one of the nation's top track and field events, drawing some 5,000 high school, college, and elite-level competitors and 40-thousand fans. The 113th annual event … [Read more...]