The Associated Press is reporting today that the nation’s leading breast-cancer charity, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, is halting its partnerships with Planned Parenthood affiliates — creating a bitter rift, linked to the abortion debate, between two iconic organizations that have assisted millions of women. The change will mean a cutoff of hundreds...
Read more »

The following is from Linn County Public Health: CEDAR RAPIDS, IA –Linn County Public Health Officials, the Cedar Rapids Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Team, and the Cedar Rapids Fire Department are currently investigating an illness report at Harding Middle School in Cedar Rapids, IA.  Linn County Public Health was contacted by Harding Middle School when...
Read more »

The following is from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:  Walgreen Co. is voluntarily recalling certain lots of 13-oz. Walgreens Chocolate-Covered Raisins because the packages may contain Walgreens Bridge Mix with peanut, almond and soy ingredients. The error occurred when Walgreens Bridge Mix was mistakenly packaged with the Walgreens Chocolate-Covered Raisin labeling. Walgreens discovered...
Read more »

If you’re over 16, healthy, and weigh at least 110 pounds, you can give blood. An average adult has up to 12 pints of blood in his or her body. The average donation size is about 1 pint. These are some of the 25 facts we are sharing during blood donor month. The following link was...
Read more »

CEDAR RAPIDS – Iowa should put partisan politics aside and move to establish a state-run health insurance exchange, according to the Iowa Exchange Alliance, a group formed last spring that backs such a proposal. “If we pass on this opportunity to design our own plan, it’s gone forever,” said Loren Coppock, managing director of...
Read more »

  Planned Parenthood applauds the decision by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to ensure access to affordable birth control, and not further expand the refusal provision to the birth control coverage benefit under the Affordable Care Act. This decision is grounded in sound medical science and health policy and protects...
Read more »

Iowa’s backward step in tobacco control funding could derail its “healthiest state” goals, according to a new report that gave Iowa an F in two categories. The American Lung Association’s annual report card, issued Thursday, Jan. 19, called out Iowa for slashing its tobacco prevention and control budget by 55 percent – from $7.39...
Read more »

IOWA CITY – Blood centers report a greater need for donations following the holidays, and ask donors to step up their visits, or at least schedule them during the slow period, marked as January’s National Blood Donor Month. The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center, which serves 80 Midwest hospitals, including Mercy Hospital and the...
Read more »

CEDAR RAPIDS – The Linn County Board of Supervisors today approved an ordinance prohibiting the sale of unregulated products containing nicotine (including nicotine delivery systems) without a retail cigarette or tobacco products permit. The ordinance also prohibits the sale of unregulated products containing nicotine and nicotine delivery systems, to minors.  The ordinance covers the...
Read more »

Iowa has received a $1 million planning grant and a $7.7 million implementation grant for its health insurance exchange. Beth Jones, who coordinated the grants for the Iowa Department of Public Health, said the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise is preparing the information technology infrastructure for the state. “By 2013 we need to be ready to...
Read more »