Health
-
Democrats take stand on healthcare as government shutdown looms
Democrats are threatening to shut down the government unless Republicans restore health insurance subsidies that would otherwise cause Iowa ACA enrollees to pay an extra $1,080 per year for coverage. With just days left before the federal government could shut down, Democrats are insisting they won’t vote for any spending bill that doesn’t protect health…
-
Trump administration backtracks on Iowa water safety rules
A group of clean water advocates in Iowa has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to back down on changes designed to ensure water safety in the state.
-
Nunn v. Konfrst: Poll shows dead heat in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District
Update: Following publication, Iowa Staring Line received screenshots of Public Policy Polling’s survey. The firm surveyed respondents on the favorability of both Democrats Jennifer Konfrst and Sarah Trone Garriott, how they would fare in a primary with one another, and how they would fare as the Democratic nominee in a general election against incumbent US…
-
What you can do to reduce your cancer risk: The big six for Iowans
It is possible to reduce your risk of cancer. Iowa health experts share more.
-
Iowa among states hit hardest by rural maternity care crisis, study finds
Despite policy efforts to preserve services, a new study found that structure inequities in health care access have led to a nationwide decline in rural obstetric services since 2018.
-
Iowa food bank warns of strain as SNAP cuts loom
The budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress this summer is set to hit the state with higher costs for food assistance and leaders said charities are not able to fill the gap.
-
It’s almost flu season. Should you still get a shot, and will insurance cover it?
Amid political chatter about vaccines and the government entities that oversee them, it’s understandable to wonder where all this leaves the 2025-26 flu vaccine. In short: Yes, the flu shot is still a thing. And four doctors we spoke to said they recommend you get your flu shot this year.
-
EPA rescinds protections for Iowa drinking water
The Environmental Protection Agency has overturned a 2024 ruling that sought to protect some of Iowa’s largest waterways that provide drinking water for half a million people.
-
How pesticides help fuel Iowa’s cancer crisis
Pesticides are part of why Iowa’s fields are so productive. Research into pesticide exposure also connects them to our cancer crisis.
-
Iowa hospitals brace for impact as federal Medicaid cuts loom
Federal Medicaid cuts are expected to strip health care from 86,000 Iowans over the next ten years. One rural hospital administrator warns the financial impact could be felt in months, not years. When Dr. Robin Plattenberger retired from her Washington County practice eight years ago, she left behind patients who depended on Medicaid for everything…
