DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two of the three private companies that manage Iowa’s Medicaid program say they have lost tens of millions of dollars since taking over. The Des Moines Register reports that AmeriHealth Caritas said last week that it had a $42.6 million deficit on its Iowa operation in the first six months of the year. Amerigroup reported a loss of $66.7 million.

Amerigroup spokeswoman Denise Malecki says the company lost more than it had anticipated. The two groups, along with UnitedHealthcare, took over the administration of Iowa’s $4 billion Medicaid program on April 1.

Gov. Terry Brandstad predicted the takeover would save the state millions over time. Amy McCoy, a spokeswoman for the Iowa Department of Human Services, suggested the companies’ financial reports show expected expenses.

Officials with the Cass County Health System announced today (Tuesday) they are hosting a program with Iowa Weight Loss Specialists (IWLS) to provide information to area residents about effective weight loss options. The event will be held on September 28^th at 6:00 p.m. with a free informational session by IWLS medical staff for the public.

IWLS Director of Bariatric Surgery Dr. Todd Eibes, says “In Iowa, the prevalence of adult obesity is over 30%. Obesity increases the risk of having heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers, which are the leading causes of preventable death in the United States. We are interested in being part of the solution to this medical epidemic right here in Iowa.”

In June of 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) declared obesity a chronic disease, leading more patients to seek clinical obesity treatment options from their primary care providers. Physician supervision is necessary to detect and treat weight-related medical conditions, and physicians can provide a variety of options specialized to the patient’s individual weight-loss needs.

Alison Bruckner, Chief Operating Officer at Cass County Health System, says “Our primary care providers frequently counsel their patients on how losing excess weight can alleviate and sometimes even eliminate other health issues. Thanks to Dr. Eibes and his team, we can now refer appropriate patients to these weight loss experts who have proven success helping hundreds of Iowans live healthier lives.”

Although this is the first time the IWLS team has conducted an informational session in Cass County, a number of IWLS patients are from the Cass County area. In fact, IWLS’s 100^th weight loss surgery patient, Chase Roller, is from Atlantic.  As a probation/parole officer, as well as a coach for high school football and wrestling, Roller was motivated to live a more active and healthier life. But his weight (and the strain on his arthritic hip the weight caused) was holding him back. Now he says his only regret is not having the surgery 10 years ago.

“I did a lot of research before coming to Dr. Eibes,” Chase explained. “I wasn’t keen on gastric bypass surgery because I didn’t want my internal plumbing re-routed and I read lots of horror stories of side-effects. I didn’t want the lap-band surgery because I didn’t like the idea of a foreign material inside my body that could cause future complications. I went to one of Dr. Eibes’ informational sessions and decided this was the solution for me. I was so surprised at how quickly the weight came off. I lost 160 pounds in 6 months. It’s amazing!”

Dr. Eibes and his team are offering a free informational session at Cass County Memorial Hospital on September 28^th, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in Conference Room 2.  Advance registration is appreciated, but not required. To register, call Iowa Weight Loss Specialists at 515-327-2000. Visit www.iowaweight.loss for more information and to read about patient success stories.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources reports the DNR plans to begin de-watering Three-Mile Lake in Union County, starting August 29th, in preparation for the fish renovation planned for the third week in September. The fish renovation will eradicate the yellow bass and common carp that have contributed to the declining water quality and sportfish quality in the lake. The DNR will begin restocking this fall after the renovation is complete.

The lake will be lowered up to 17 feet from normal pool for the fish renovation. Users should expect low water levels during the Labor Day holiday weekend. Access to some boat ramps may be limited due to the low water level. Boaters should use extreme caution as potential hazards such as tree stumps, cedar tree brushpiles, and underwater reefs may be at or near the water’s surface.

Vaccination rates among Iowa school children are dropping. More than four-and-a-half percent of Iowa students had not been immunized against major diseases like polio by last fall. Don Callaghan is the immunizations bureau chief for the Iowa Department of Public Health. “The risk of not immunizing is very real,” Callaghan says. “Diseases are still present, but I think one of the concerns parents have is they don’t see the diseases that we’re vaccinating for today and that’s because vaccines have done a good job at preventing those.”

Iowa law requires students enrolled in school to be vaccinated against polio, measles and other diseases, like hepatitis B. Iowa law allows parents to get an exemption for their children because of their religion or for medical reasons. Twenty-seven Iowa schools had fewer than 80 percent of students vaccinated last school year. Five schools had vaccination rates of 50 percent or lower. State officials will be checking immunization records this year, too.

“The audit’s conducted annually to assure children are compliant with school law,” Callaghan says. “For school law, they have to have the required immunizations or they can have a medical or religious exemption or they also they have can a provisional exemption which means they’ve had some of the shots, but they’ve not had time to complete the remaining doses in the series.” Measles outbreaks are rare in the U.S. because of the vaccination program started in 1963, but Callaghan says the disease is “easily imported.”

“If your child is unvaccinated, we like to say that a disease is a plane ride away,” Callaghan says. “So if you have an individual coming from another country, you could be exposing your child to a potential infectious disease.” The measles can cause swelling of the brain and death. Officials in the U.S. and Iowa have seen an increase in the number of parents seeking exemptions from required childhood vaccinations after a fraudulent 1998 report suggested a link between immunizations and autism.

“Vaccines have done a good job at preventing vaccine-preventable diseases,” Callaghan says, “so out of sight, out of mind and people just don’t realize that these diseases do exist and it is important to receive the vaccines.” Go to http://www.idph.iowa.gov/immtb/immunization/audits to find the latest state report on immunization rates in Iowa schools.

(Radio Iowa)

Police in Glenwood report the arrest on Monday, of 41-year old Thomas Smith, of Glenwood. Smith was taken into custody for Assault While displaying a dangerous weapon. His bond was set at $2000 cash or surety.

Iowans are complaining that a device used for emergency treatment during life-threatening allergic reactions is skyrocketing in price. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he’s hearing from dozens of constituents about the rising cost of the EpiPen. “The cost of the device has increased more than 400% in recent years,” Grassley says. The Republican says he’s gotten nearly 50 letters in the past few weeks from Iowans who need these devices in case they have a severe reaction, by accidentally eating nuts for example, that threatens to cut off their ability to breathe.

“One Iowa father wrote that he had to pay more than $500 just for one EpiPen for his daughter,” Grassley says. “Iowans also wrote that since the pens expire after about a year, the cost is recurring.” One report says the devices sold in two-packs in 2009 for about $100. EpiPens resemble an ink pen and auto-inject epinephrine, a chemical that narrows blood vessels and opens airways in the lungs. Grassley says he’s concerned the substantial price increase could limit access to a much-needed medication.

“The effects of the cost increase on patients is a concern from a couple of points of view,” Grassley says, “not only to the family, but there’s also concern that school budgets might be effected because a lot of schools keep the product on hand.” Grassley has written a letter to the C-E-O of Mylan, the Pennsylvania-based company that makes EpiPens, inquiring about the price hikes.

“I’ve asked other questions about other pharmaceuticals and sometimes that has caused the company to wake up and see reality,” Grassley says, “in particular, the bad public relations they have when they have these sort of increases that are unjustified.” Another fear, Grassley says, is that the bounding expense of the devices could create an unsafe situation for patients as people try to make their own EpiPen kits from raw materials.

(Radio Iowa)

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A 29-year-old Council Bluffs woman has been given two years of probation for a fatal hit-and-run accident. The Daily Nonpareil reports  Stephanie Kenealy was sentenced Monday. She’d pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a fatality accident. The judge also granted her a deferred judgment. Under a deferred judgment, the conviction can be wiped from Kenealy’s record if she successfully completes the terms of her probation.

Authorities say 54-year-old David Ryder was riding his bike in the same direction as Kenealy’s sport utility vehicle when she hit the bicyclist during a downpour of rain on Sept. 8, 2015.  Ryder was declared dead at the scene. Authorities say Kenealy had left the scene and returned nearly an hour later.

The Cass County Board of Supervisors will hold their regular weekly meeting 8:30-a.m. Wednesday, in their Boardroom at the Courthouse in Atlantic. On their agenda is action on approving an agreement authorizing Snyder and Associates Engineers to assist in the coordination and plan review of the various improvements that may impact the Glacier and Echo Road roadway project (Including proposed railway improvements at the proposed ethanol plant site).

The Board is also expected to receive regular reports from County Department Heads and act on a Class C Beer & Sunday sales permit for the 21st Century Co-op C Store, in Massena.

The Board of Supervisors in Adair County will meet 9-a.m. Wednesday, at the courthouse in Greenfield. On their agenda, is a Fiscal Year 2016 Financial Report from Auditor Mindy Schaefer, and FY 2016 Urban Renewal Report. The Board will also hear from Adair County Sheriff Jeff Vandewater with regard to a longevity increase and Jailer/Dispatcher vacancy.

Adair County Engineer Nick Kauffman will report on the resignation of Weed Commissioner Jesse Decker, and job re-classification for Tyson Sickles from Engineering Tech to Engineering Tech/Safety Coordinator. The Board will then act on approving four Right-of-Way contracts. Kauffman will also present a report on his department’s regular maintenance and activities.

A man from Sidney was injured during an accident involving his bicycle and a pickup Monday afternoon, in Fremont County. The Iowa State Patrol reports 27-year old Brett Kissel, of Sidney, was transported by LifeNet Helicopter to Creighton University Hospital in Omaha, following a collision that happened at around 4:10-p.m., Monday.

Authorities say a 2004 Chevy pickup driven by 55-year old Arlene Smith, of Hamburg, was traveling east on Fillmore Street, in Sidney, when Kissel, who was riding a mountain bike northbound on Walnut Street, failed to stop at the posted intersection. His bike hit Smith’s pickup on the right front passenger fender and passenger door.

The accident remains under investigation. The Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, Sidney Fire and Rescue, and LifeNet Medical Helicopter.