Veterans hooked on fishing; raising funds for upcoming trip
DES MOINES, Iowa — This local group of veterans is pretty fly, and they're currently raising funds for a three-day fly-fishing trip.
Project Healing Waters started 20 years ago as a project to help disabled veterans keep active and busy. The group has since expanded to allow all veterans, and now thousands partake across the country.
The Des Moines group gathers once a week to learned tricks of the trade, build flies, and spend time with friends. The group then goes on fly-fishing trips around the metro and put those flies to good use.
One veteran in the program says the group has helped him overcome obstacles and improve his mental and physical health.
Greenfield Mercantile breathes new life into historic storefront
'I live with MS and the first day I was able to come in and participate. I have issues with my hands with dexterity and sometimes tremors, and they showed me how to use the virus and tied my first fly. After about 45 minutes to an hour, my hands had actually settled down, no longer shaking,' said Jeff Cook, Project Healing Waters member for six years.
Project Healing Waters isn't only about keeping veterans active, it also gives them a space to feel at peace and share their experiences.
'This is part of what happens when you go out. You are focused on fishing. You forget everything around you except you have the unusual come in. And this is so fantastic,' said Paul Wright, PHW Lead. 'I've been through the ringer, so I understand. When we get together, we don't ask questions. You talk. Fine. You don't want to talk, don't matter. We don't care. We're here to provide support.'
The group is currently raising funds to attend a special three-day trip to Strawberry Point from May 16-18, where Iowa stream trout fishing is at its finest.
'This area is very beneficial to us. For one, it we don't have public people in the area. We don't have a busy restaurant.,' said Ronda Long, Trout Unlimited President. 'My veterans with PTSD, they really need a calm, quiet area. The trout streams are right there.'
To learn more about Project Healing Waters mission you can visit their website or contact the Des Moines program lead Paul Wright at 515-229-3299. To donate to the trip, you can contact Paul Wright or Ronda Long at 319-280-2973.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
America might finally make childbirth free—and moms could be the biggest winners
'This is how much it costs to give birth in America: $44,318.41.' That was the now-viral TikTok from a mom just days postpartum, scrolling through the itemized bill at home. Her insurance only covered $20,353.62—despite paying $2,500 a month for coverage for her family of five. This mom's story isn't an outlier. According to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, privately insured families in the U.S. pay an average of $3,000 out-of-pocket for childbirth on average—just for having a baby. By 'choosing' to have a baby with a midwife in a birth center, I personally had to pay a $10k fee upfront. (Wanting midwifery care in a calm setting for my super fast labors didn't feel like a choice, but in America, it is.) Moms bear so many burdens for having babies. And one devastating cost that sets so many families back financially when they're just beginning life together is the price of childbirth, even with insurance. We're talking million-dollar NICU bills. $50k c-section charges. A financial punishment for doing the most critical work in a country: bringing the next generation of citizens into the world. But that may soon change. A bipartisan group of senators has introduced a bill that could be a game-changer for millions of American families. The Supporting Healthy Moms and Babies Act (S.1834) was announced on May 21, 2025, and aims to eliminate all out-of-pocket costs related to prenatal care, childbirth, and postpartum services for those with private health insurance. The bill's sponsors—Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)—say the legislation is about protecting families from being buried in medical debt at one of the most vulnerable times in life. 'Bringing a child into the world is costly enough without piling on cost-share fees that saddle many mothers and families with debt,' Sen. Hyde-Smith said in a statement announcing the legislation. 'By relieving financial stresses associated with pregnancy and childbirth, hopefully more families will be encouraged to embrace the beautiful gift and responsibility of parenthood.' A companion bill is expected in the House, led by Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), who told Vox, 'This idea is simple and powerful: Pregnancy and childbirth are normal parts of family life. So, insurance companies should treat it like the routine care it is and cover the cost—not stick people with huge medical bills.' While the average out-of-pocket cost is around $3,000, the financial burden can be far worse for many: 17% of privately insured moms face bills over $5,000 1% are hit with bills exceeding $10,000 17.5% of women with private insurance report problems paying medical bills Nearly 9% say they couldn't pay them at all These numbers are not just statistics—they represent real parents delaying care, going into debt, or struggling to recover financially in the fragile weeks after childbirth. If passed, the bill would expand the list of 'essential health benefits' under the Affordable Care Act to include full-spectrum maternity care. Medicaid already covers these services in full, and that's how 41% of births in the U.S. are paid for. But for the 178 million people on private insurance plans? Birth is still a budget-buster. The new legislation would require private insurers to pick up the tab. That means: Prenatal care (including appointments and ultrasounds) Labor and delivery Hospital stays Postpartum recovery and mental health care Neonatal and perinatal services Lactation support The estimated premium hike to cover it all? About $30 per year, according to Lawson Mansell, policy analyst at the Niskanen Center, who conducted the cost modeling for the bill. Mansell told Vox this proposal is the simplest way, on an administrative level, to make birth free. Related: Too many U.S. moms are in debt from giving birth. They deserve better. Beyond the financial relief, this bill has the potential to improve health outcomes for moms and babies. Research backs this up: A report by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner found that eliminating cost-sharing for prenatal services is associated with improved maternal and infant outcomes, including fewer preterm births and higher birth weights. So in addition to relieving the stress families face, covering prenatal care fully makes it more likely that moms actually get it. Another study published in BMC Public Health linked removing financial barriers under the Affordable Care Act to increased use of preventive care, such as mammography and Pap tests. While the study focused on these services, the findings suggest that eliminating financial barriers can encourage timely and consistent healthcare utilization. The bill's sponsors come from across the political spectrum—and so do its supporters. Everyone from the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to anti-abortion groups like Americans United for Life and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America have voiced support. Even Planned Parenthood Action Fund commented they 'generally supports legislation to make the cost of maternal health care and parenting more affordable.' Related: The cost of giving birth is getting more expensive—and some families are getting hit with childbirth debt If the bill becomes law, the financial landscape of pregnancy would change dramatically—especially for those in the 'missing middle': families who earn too much for Medicaid but not enough to easily afford thousands in delivery fees. It would also offer immediate relief for parents managing multiple financial burdens at once: high rent, unpaid leave, child care costs, student loans. You know, new motherhood. Call your representatives. Especially if you have private insurance and have ever been slammed with a delivery bill. You can find contact info at and Share your story. Lawmakers have said constituent birth bill stories played a big role in shaping this legislation. Talk about it on social. If your childbirth costs shocked you, say so. Use hashtags like #MakeBirthFree and tag your reps. This moment is historic not just because it's bipartisan, but because it signals a new kind of family policy thinking: one where moms aren't expected to 'figure it out' in isolation, one giant bill at a time. As Yuval Levin of the American Enterprise Institute put it in a policy brief, 'Substantively and symbolically, bringing the out-of-pocket health care costs of childbirth to zero is an ambitious but achievable starting point for the next generation of pro-family policies.' Whether you're pregnant now or years past it, you probably remember your hospital bill—and you definitely remember how it made you feel. Exhausted. Angry. Maybe even ashamed. This new bill says: No more. And moms deserve that. Sources: Family-Friendly Policies for the 119th Congress. February 2025. AEI. Family-Friendly Policies for the 119th Congress. America might finally make childbirth free. May 2025. Vox. America might finally make childbirth free. Americans United for Life Applauds Bipartisan Innovative Policy Proposal. May 2025. America United for Life. Americans United for Life Applauds Bipartisan Innovative Policy Proposal to Make Maternal Healthcare More Affordable. AMA advocacy to improve maternal health. May 2025. AMA. AMA advocacy to improve maternal health. Impact of removing cost sharing. 2019. BMC Public Health. Impact of removing cost sharing under the affordable care act (ACA) on mammography and pap test use. New bipartisan proposal would remove childbirth costs. May 2025. Niskanen Center. New bipartisan proposal would remove childbirth costs and confusion for parents. Characteristics of Mothers by Source of Payment for the Delivery. May 2023. CDC. Characteristics of Mothers by Source of Payment for the Delivery: United States, 2021. About the Affordable Care Act. Us Department of Health an Human Services. About the Affordable Care Act. Out-of-pocket medical bills childbirth. National Library of Medicine. Out-of-pocket medical bills from first childbirth and subsequent childbearing. The Association of Childbirth with Medical Debt. National Library of Medicine. The Association of Childbirth with Medical Debt in the USA, 2019–2020. Sentators introduce bill to ease financial burden of pregnancy. Cindy Hyde-Smith. SENATORS INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF PREGNANCY, CHILDBIRTH. Women who Give Birth Incur Nearly $19,000 in Additional Health Costs. KFF. Women who Give Birth Incur Nearly $19,000 in Additional Health Costs, Including $2,854 More that They Pay Out of Pocket.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Announces Authorized Claim for Payment by Major Healthcare Payer for its Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS®) Device
-Aetna authorizes claim for PoNS Device at out-of-network negotiated price of $18,350, becoming the third payer to join Anthem and United in providing PoNS reimbursement- -Out of Network reimbursement is only the first step towards expanding third-party paid access to PoNS- NEWTOWN, Pa., June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSDT) ('Helius' or the 'Company'), a neurotech company focused on delivering a novel therapeutic neuromodulation approach for balance and gait deficits, today announced an authorized claim for payment for the PoNS Device from a third major healthcare provider, Aetna Healthcare. 'The recent reimbursement approvals from two major commercial healthcare payers, with a third underway, mark significant milestones for Helius and the MS community,' said Dane Andreeff, Helius' President and Chief Executive Officer. 'We are actively pursuing broader in-network coverage for PoNS at list price from major commercial payers, while continuing to negotiate reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. We expect to continue our efforts in expanding patient access and ensuring consistent reimbursement as we work to align commercial payments with the rates currently offered by the VA/DoD at $26,228. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to supporting individuals with MS who rely on Medicare for PoNS treatment and believe this, along with other 3rd party payer reimbursement decisions will benefit our continued efforts to secure fair and adequate reimbursement by CMS for the PoNS system.' The out-of-network price, which typically is 30 to 40% below in-network contracted payment rates of $18,350, was negotiated and accepted by Aetna Healthcare to fulfill the prescription of the PoNS Device for an individual with multiple sclerosis. Depending on the individual's deductible and out-of-pocket costs, this claim may not result in an immediate PoNS Device sale. About the PoNS Device and PoNS Therapy The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator ('PoNS') is an innovative, non-implantable, orally applied therapy that delivers neurostimulation through a mouthpiece connected to a controller and it's used, primarily at home, with physical rehabilitation exercise, to improve balance and gait. The PoNS device, which delivers mild electrical impulses to the tongue, is indicated for use in the United States as a short-term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate symptoms from MS and is to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over by prescription only. PoNS has shown effectiveness in treating gait or balance and a significant reduction in the risk of falling in stroke patients in Canada, where it received authorization for sale in three indications: (i) for use as a short-term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from stroke and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy; (ii) for use as a short-term treatment (14 weeks) of chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury ('mmTBI') and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy; and (iii) for use as a short-term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. PoNS is also authorized for sale in Australia for short-term use by healthcare professionals as an adjunct to a therapeutic exercise program to improve balance and gait. For more information visit About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Helius Medical Technologies is a leading neurotech company in the medical device field focused on neurologic deficits using orally applied technology platform that amplifies the brain's ability to engage physiologic compensatory mechanisms and promote neuroplasticity, improving the lives of people dealing with neurologic diseases. The Company's first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator. For more information about the PoNS® or Helius Medical Technologies, visit Cautionary Disclaimer Statement Certain statements in this news release are not based on historical facts and constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as 'believe,' 'expect,' 'continue,' 'will,' 'goal,' 'aim' and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding commercial reimbursement of the PoNS Device and the uses and effectiveness of PoNS and PoNS Therapy. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include uncertainties associated with the Company's capital requirements to achieve its business objectives, availability of funds, the Company's ability to find additional sources of funding, manufacturing, labor shortage and supply chain risks, including risks related to manufacturing delays, the Company's ability to obtain national Medicare insurance coverage and to obtain a reimbursement code, the Company's ability to continue to build internal commercial infrastructure, secure state distribution licenses, market awareness of the PoNS device, future clinical trials and the clinical development process, the product development process and the FDA regulatory submission review and approval process, other development activities, ongoing government regulation, and other risks detailed from time to time in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and its other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulators, which can be obtained from either at or The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements except to the extent required by law. Investor Relations Contact Philip Trip TaylorGilmartin Groupinvestorrelations@
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Yahoo
Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Announces Authorized Claim for Payment by Major Healthcare Payer for its Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator (PoNS®) Device
-Aetna authorizes claim for PoNS Device at out-of-network negotiated price of $18,350, becoming the third payer to join Anthem and United in providing PoNS reimbursement- -Out of Network reimbursement is only the first step towards expanding third-party paid access to PoNS- NEWTOWN, Pa., June 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSDT) ('Helius' or the 'Company'), a neurotech company focused on delivering a novel therapeutic neuromodulation approach for balance and gait deficits, today announced an authorized claim for payment for the PoNS Device from a third major healthcare provider, Aetna Healthcare. 'The recent reimbursement approvals from two major commercial healthcare payers, with a third underway, mark significant milestones for Helius and the MS community,' said Dane Andreeff, Helius' President and Chief Executive Officer. 'We are actively pursuing broader in-network coverage for PoNS at list price from major commercial payers, while continuing to negotiate reimbursement on a case-by-case basis. We expect to continue our efforts in expanding patient access and ensuring consistent reimbursement as we work to align commercial payments with the rates currently offered by the VA/DoD at $26,228. At the same time, we remain firmly committed to supporting individuals with MS who rely on Medicare for PoNS treatment and believe this, along with other 3rd party payer reimbursement decisions will benefit our continued efforts to secure fair and adequate reimbursement by CMS for the PoNS system.' The out-of-network price, which typically is 30 to 40% below in-network contracted payment rates of $18,350, was negotiated and accepted by Aetna Healthcare to fulfill the prescription of the PoNS Device for an individual with multiple sclerosis. Depending on the individual's deductible and out-of-pocket costs, this claim may not result in an immediate PoNS Device sale. About the PoNS Device and PoNS Therapy The Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator ('PoNS') is an innovative, non-implantable, orally applied therapy that delivers neurostimulation through a mouthpiece connected to a controller and it's used, primarily at home, with physical rehabilitation exercise, to improve balance and gait. The PoNS device, which delivers mild electrical impulses to the tongue, is indicated for use in the United States as a short-term treatment of gait deficit due to mild-to-moderate symptoms from MS and is to be used as an adjunct to a supervised therapeutic exercise program in patients 22 years of age and over by prescription only. PoNS has shown effectiveness in treating gait or balance and a significant reduction in the risk of falling in stroke patients in Canada, where it received authorization for sale in three indications: (i) for use as a short-term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from stroke and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy; (ii) for use as a short-term treatment (14 weeks) of chronic balance deficit due to mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury ('mmTBI') and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy; and (iii) for use as a short-term treatment (14 weeks) of gait deficit due to mild and moderate symptoms from MS and is to be used in conjunction with physical therapy. PoNS is also authorized for sale in Australia for short-term use by healthcare professionals as an adjunct to a therapeutic exercise program to improve balance and gait. For more information visit About Helius Medical Technologies, Inc. Helius Medical Technologies is a leading neurotech company in the medical device field focused on neurologic deficits using orally applied technology platform that amplifies the brain's ability to engage physiologic compensatory mechanisms and promote neuroplasticity, improving the lives of people dealing with neurologic diseases. The Company's first commercial product is the Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator. For more information about the PoNS® or Helius Medical Technologies, visit Cautionary Disclaimer Statement Certain statements in this news release are not based on historical facts and constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as 'believe,' 'expect,' 'continue,' 'will,' 'goal,' 'aim' and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding commercial reimbursement of the PoNS Device and the uses and effectiveness of PoNS and PoNS Therapy. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include uncertainties associated with the Company's capital requirements to achieve its business objectives, availability of funds, the Company's ability to find additional sources of funding, manufacturing, labor shortage and supply chain risks, including risks related to manufacturing delays, the Company's ability to obtain national Medicare insurance coverage and to obtain a reimbursement code, the Company's ability to continue to build internal commercial infrastructure, secure state distribution licenses, market awareness of the PoNS device, future clinical trials and the clinical development process, the product development process and the FDA regulatory submission review and approval process, other development activities, ongoing government regulation, and other risks detailed from time to time in the 'Risk Factors' section of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and its other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian securities regulators, which can be obtained from either at or The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such statements except to the extent required by law. Investor Relations Contact Philip Trip TaylorGilmartin Groupinvestorrelations@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data