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Capitol Notebook: Grassley announces federal funding for Iowa medical residencies
Also in the notebook, Iowa AG Brenna Bird announces Iowa will receive funds as part of a multistate settlement with Mercedes-Benz
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DES MOINES — An Iowa hospital will receive additional Medicare funds to help cover added graduate medical education residency positions in emergency medicine, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley announced.
Iowa Methodist Medical Center-UnityPoint, in Des Moines, will receive the Medicare funding to support 2.92 additional positions, Grassley’s office said.
The positions are the result of a 2020 law Grassley supported as then-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Grassley’s office said.
It is the fourth round of residency funding from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Iowa has been awarded funding for 14 permanent, additional residency positions thus far, Grassley’s office said.
“During my 99 county meetings, I hear from patients and health care professionals who tell me our medical workforce needs more support,” Grassley said in a press release. “We especially need more emergency room doctors in rural communities, so today’s announcement is welcome news. I’m gratified to see my efforts are continuing to support Iowans seeking medical care.”
Dr. William J. Yost, the chief academic officer and vice president of medical education and research at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, thanked Grassley for his work on the residency funding.
“The additional Medicare-funded residency slots help address critical physician shortages here in Iowa and helps ensure Iowans continue to have access to high quality health care in their local community,” Yost said in the press release from Grassley’s office. “Our programs consistently produce physicians and surgeons that remain in Iowa to serve Iowans.”
Iowa to receive $3M from 50-state settlement with Mercedes-Benz
Iowa will receive $3.1 million as part of a 50-state settlement with Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler AG for violating state laws prohibiting unfair or deceptive trade practices, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office announced.
Mercedes-Benz USA and Daimler AG were accused of marketing, selling, and leasing vehicles equipped with illegal and undisclosed emissions defeat devices, the AG’s office said. The devices were in more than 211,000 diesel passenger vehicles from 2008 to 2016. The company allegedly used the devices to improperly meet fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance requirements.
The total, 50-state settlement is for nearly $150 million.
“Iowans deserve the truth when buying a vehicle,” Bird said in a press release. “Software and cheat devices that can affect important issues like miles-per-gallon and maintenance should not be hidden so that Iowans can weigh the true value of the vehicle they want to purchase. I am happy today’s settlement is returning money to Iowans’ pockets along with providing warranty extensions.”
The settlement provides to eligible Iowans $2,000 per vehicle following the installation of approved emission modification software and an extended warranty, the AG’s office said.
The state will deposit the $3.1 million in a state fund for future consumer litigation or education purposes, Bird’s office said.
Gazette-Lee Des Moines Bureau
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