Latest news with #IowaHealthandHumanServices
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs bill aimed at growing rural hospital workforces
GUTHRIE CENTER, Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds signed her top priority into law on Wednesday afternoon. The Governor signed her own proposed legislation at the Guthrie County Hospital, with state health care leaders, lawmakers and health care workers in attendance. The bill, HF 972, has a plethora of provisions aimed at incentivizing medical students in the state to practice here. 'Iowa ranks 40th in the number of residency slots available to medical students, which means many of our graduates from Iowa medical schools don't get a chance to continue their education and training here,' said Reynolds. The bill sets up a loan repayment program for medical students who commit to work in a rural health care system for at least five years — doubling the funding of the existing program to nearly $8 million. Families part ways with 1,800 Iowa soldiers at deployment sendoff ceremonies Iowa Health and Human Services is also directed to work on receiving $150 million in federal funding that will allow 115 new residency slots to be added annually to Iowa's medical schools. 'Just three to four years from now, the amount of time it takes for a typical residency rotation, we could have up to 450 more physicians being trained right here in Iowa, with some ready to enter the workforce, and we're going to be ready for them,' said Reynolds. The legislation also sets up a $3 million health care credential granting program that will allow hospitals to educate and train future health care workers. 'It's no secret there's a physician shortage and a nurse shortage,' said Chris Stipe, the CEO of the Guthrie County Hospital. 'But let's be honest, there's a shortage of all qualified health care workers in nearly every field. And workforce shortages are often more severe in smaller communities. If we are to continue to effectively care for our rural Iowa communities, critical strategies such as loan forgiveness programs and graduate medical education programs must be funded and expanded and run efficiently.' Governor Reynolds also signed another bill, HF 310, into law that expands the legal definition of 'health care provider' to protect more health care workers who are assaulted while at work by an individual. Outside of expanding the definition, the penalties were increased for anyone who commits the crime. Iowa News: Forecast: Thursday raindrops, then heat Gov. Kim Reynolds signs bill aimed at growing rural hospital workforces Families part ways with 1,800 Iowa soldiers at deployment send-off ceremonies Funnel clouds reported in Iowa today Pella Middle School teacher earns Golden Apple Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gov. Reynolds' waiver to limit eligible food under SNAP approved
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds' waiver to restrict the list of food eligible to be purchased under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was approved. Reynolds and Iowa Health and Human Services submitted the waiver requesting that certain items like candy, soda, and even certain granola bars be ineligible to obtain with SNAP benefits to the United States Department of Agriculture last week. On Thursday, Reynolds' office announced that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins approved the waiver. According to the governor's office, the waiver allows SNAP recipients to purchase foods that are non-taxable under Iowa law. That means recipients would not be able to purchase food subject to sales tax, which includes things like candy, ready-to-eat kettle corn or caramel corn, marshmallows, soda, and fruit juices that contain less than 50% fruit or vegetable juice. Reynolds said the waiver's approval will help promote healthy eating in the state. 'Soaring obesity rates have brought our nation and state to a crossroads,' Reynolds said in a statement. 'To promote healthy eating and protect future generations from disease — and to ensure SNAP fulfills its core function — we need a change. Thank you to Secretary Rollins and her team for helping make that change happen.' PCSO reporting outage of Runnells outdoor warning siren However, critics of the waiver like the Iowa Hunger Coalition said that the restriction of foods eligible under SNAP doesn't address the issue of food insecurity. 'I don't think this is really the right way to get low income Iowans eating healthier,' Luke Elzinga, chair of IHC and Policy and Advocacy Manager at DMARC, told WHO 13 last week. 'We need to be looking at solutions that will increase the affordability and accessibility of fresh fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods for low income Iowans. This [the waiver] just really sends the message that the state of Iowa doesn't trust low-income families to make the best food choices for their family. We don't think this ban will be effective, and we'd really like to see some solutions and evidence-based proven interventions like Double Up Food Bucks. The governor actually even mentioned that in her waiver request. So again, we think there are proven solutions to increase healthy eating, but this is not one.' Iowa is now the second state to have a waiver request to limit eligible foods under SNAP approved by the USDA. On Monday, Rollins approved Nebraska's request to ban soda and energy drinks. 'President Trump has given our nation a once in a generation opportunity to change the health trajectory for our entire country,' Rollins said on Thursday. 'On my first day as secretary, I sent a call to states to innovate, and Governor Kim Reynolds stepped up to take action. I look forward to signing even more waivers in the days ahead as we continue to restore the health of our country.' So far, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, West Virginia, and Colorado are all considering implementing similar changes to SNAP. Iowa's waiver will take effect on January 1, 2026. Iowa News: New Iowa Falls museum opens to honor local veterans Gov. Reynolds' waiver to limit eligible food under SNAP approved Arrest made in Ames vehicle burglaries Brock Purdy avoided offseason drama before signing 5-year, $265 million extension with the 49ers Gabe on the Go: Growing a legacy at Reed's Greenhouse in Colfax Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Anti-hunger advocates challenge bill that would limit food choices for Iowa SNAP recipients
Low-income Iowans would be limited in what foods they could buy with their federal food assistance dollars at the grocery store under a House bill that advanced Wednesday. While anti-hunger advocates approved of House Study Bill 216's $1 million appropriation to support the Double Up Food Bucks program, speakers at a subcommittee Wednesday decried the section of the bill requiring the state to request a federal waiver that would restrict what products Iowans can buy with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program dollars. Lawmakers on a House subcommittee advanced the bill Wednesday. Health and Human Services Committee Chair Carter Nordman, R-Dallas Center, said the full committee will consider adjustments to the bill, including language changes on the federal wavier the Iowa Health and Human Services has proposed. Sonia Reyes with Iowa Health and Human Services said a federal waiver might not be needed. Iowa HHS is asking lawmakers to amend the bill to have more flexible language around which items are available to SNAP recipients. The bill comes after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a 2023 law to make sweeping changes to SNAP, which expected to cut off food assistance benefits for thousands of Iowans by imposing stricter requirements like new asset tests and eligibility checks. Rep. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta, said she signed off on the bill to continue the discussion of possible changes to the legislation. "Again, just knowing that it doesn't solve all of the problems we are facing, maybe it creates new problems, we're hearing that," Lundgren said. "But in order to keep the discussion alive and maybe come up with some solutions before the end of the year, I think we need to have that vehicle." Rep. Rob Johnson, D-Des Moines, said with personal experience growing up in a family that relied on programs like SNAP, he couldn't support a bill that could limit Iowans' food options. "Again, I want to reiterate I appreciate the hard work of my fellow colleagues and legislators, but I cannot in good conscience support this bill in the way it is drafted currently ... " Johnson said. The bill requires the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to request a federal waiver that limits the foods available to SNAP recipients to: Real meat from cows, pigs and fish. Real eggs, including fresh and dried eggs and pasteurized liquid whole eggs. Real dairy products from cows, goats or sheep, such as milk, yogurt and cheese. Bread and grains, all cereals, granola and hot cereals, peanut butter and nuts, pasta, and rice and legumes. All fruits and vegetables. Any item on the Department of Health and Human Services' most recent published list of approved foods for the Iowa Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children. The bill says the eligible foods can be fresh, frozen, canned, preserved, made into spreads or juiced. SNAP recipients can double their dollars through the state Double Up Food Bucks program to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets, grocery stores, and other eligible locations. More: Iowa Senate bill would give $1 million to program that helps SNAP users buy produce Anti-hunger advocates said the bill could limit Iowa's SNAP recipients from buying items, such as bottled water, cooking oil, crackers and frozen or prepared meals. No one at the subcommittee spoke in support of the bill. Luke Elzinga, policy and advocacy manager for the DMARC Food Pantry Network, said two-thirds of the grocery store would be off-limits to SNAP recipients under the bill. "This bill punishes poor people, increases program stigma and pushes the stigma that low-income Iowans cannot be trusted to make the best food choices for their families," Elzinga said. Paige Chickering, Iowa state advocacy manager for the Save the Children Action Network, said the bill could also hurt food access to rural Iowans who already face grocery store deserts. She said grocery stores carry an average of 40,000 food items and there are over 650,000 different food and beverage items on the market. To comply with the bill, Chickering said retailers or the state would have to go through every product to classify whether it's eligible for SNAP recipients. "While some items may be straightforward, like sliced deli meat, many are not," Chickering said. "For example, is flour, counted as a grain, unpurchasable? or are kids' snack packs that include meat and cheese but also crackers allowed to be included under this legislation?" Sabine Martin covers politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow her on X at @sabinefmartin. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: House bill would limit what foods Iowans can buy with SNAP dollars
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Siouxland schools receive part of $600K of grants for child care education credit
DES MOINES (KCAU) — Two Siouxland schools are part of nine in Iowa that will receive a total of nearly $600,000 in grants for educating students in family and consumer science programs while also getting credit. The Iowa Department of Education awarded the Credential to Child Care Careers grants Tuesday. The nine schools to receive the grants are as follows: Central Lyon Community School District Charles City Community School District Clear Creek Amana Community School District Des Moines Public Schools Harlan Community School District Iowa City Community School District Le Mars Community School District Marshalltown Community School District Woodbine Community School District Annual Faces of Siouxland Multicultural Fair coming up in March The grants help communities in achieving expanded access to child care while also supporting high school students in earning a Child Development Associate credential, per a release. The credential is nationally recognized and awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition. It requires coursework, field experience, and an assessment where the student is observed working with children. 'Parents need a child care solution that meets the demands of their busy lives and we need to grow and support strong local solutions,' Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement. 'I commend each of these nine district awardees for their forward-looking approach to prepare young Iowans to be career ready upon graduation, while also supporting local businesses in building their workforce pipeline.' School district awardees will receive curriculum that meets both requirements by Iowa Health and Human Services for employees of Iowa-licensed child care centers and the classroom requirements for a CDA credential. The school districts can also used the grants to cover related costs. The grants come after a successful pilot program last summer during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years. Those schools included Council Bluffs, MMCRU, Sioux Central, Starmont, and Woodbine school districts. Cook Park affordable housing project continues to moves forward 'Informed by the success of these programs last fall, we opened this opportunity statewide to support more school districts in strengthening pathways to in-demand child development careers for students while supporting working families,' said Iowa Department of Education Director McKenzie Snow in a statement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
