Privatized Medicaid Companies To See Increase In Pay
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa officials say they’re giving a $344 million raise to two companies that manage the state’s Medicaid program. The state’s share is nearly $103 million, or a 7.5 percent increase. The federal government will cover the remainder. The Iowa Department of Human Services, which oversees the health care program for 680,000 poor and disabled Iowans, said Friday the additional funding is “a manageable increase.”
New Software App Tells Des Moines Teachers Of Emergency
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – New software and a mobile app will let Des Moines teachers respond immediately to emergencies, alert other staffers and lock down doors.
The Des Moines Register reports that the $9,000 Alertus software notifies the district’s public safety office and other staff on campus about an emergency. The software also handles severe weather alerts.
Pam Rosa is the safety specialist for Des Moines Public Schools. She says calling 911 is still the preferred way to seek help, but the new software is an added layer of security.
The move comes after Iowa passed a law this spring requiring schools to create emergency plans on responding to threats, such as a shooter or a tornado. The bill passed in the wake of a school shooting that left 17 dead in Parkland, Florida.
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Des Moines Real Estate Company Says It Reluctantly Sold Land To Federal Government
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines realty company says it has reluctantly sold prime riverfront land to the federal government under threat of having the land taken through eminent domain. Hubbell Realty Co. told the Des Moines Register on Friday that it has entered a purchase agreement with
the General Service Administration for the former Riverfront YMCA land. The federal government had announced earlier this month that it planned to build a $137 million federal courthouse on the site.
More Than 500 People Got Ill From Eating McDonald’s Salads
CHICAGO (AP) – Federal health officials say they’ve confirmed more than 500 cases of people who became sick with an intestinal illness after eating McDonald’s salads.
The illnesses reported earlier this year are linked to the cyclospora parasite, which can cause diarrhea, intestinal pain, nausea or fatigue. The Food and Drug Administration said Friday that 507 cases have been confirmed in 15 states and New York City.
McDonald’s stopped the sale of salads at 3,000 restaurants last month until it could find a different supplier. The FDA says it’s still investigating the supplier of romaine lettuce and carrots.
States with cases include: Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Officials also said people sickened in Connecticut, Florida, New York City, Tennessee, and Virginia had traveled in Illinois and Kentucky.
