(Radio Iowa) – A medical practice in Sioux City has agreed to pay a 600-thousand dollar settlement to resolve allegations it improperly submitted bills for tummy tucks and other cosmetic procedures to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE — the government insurance program for active-duty military and veterans.

Federal authorities say a plastic surgeon who used to be a partner at Tri-State Specialists falsely labeled some cosmetic procedures as medically necessary on bills. The government also raised questions about the plastic surgeon’s bills for office visits. Tri-State Specialists has offices in Sioux City and Le Mars and admits no wrong-doing. It will pay the States of Iowa, South Dakota, and the federal government 612-thousand dollars.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says Republicans in the House will advance a plan next week that sets the general level of state taxpayer support of Iowa’s public K-through-12 schools for the next academic year. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds has recommended a two-and-a-half percent increase.

“That’s a pretty reasonable estimate,” Grassley says. “We’re still reviewing some of the other pieces when it comes to transportation and the per pupil equity, those pieces that have been part of those discussions.” Grassley isn’t ready to reveal whether House Republicans hope to again send more state money to cover busing costs in schools that cover large geographic areas.

The Central Decatur School District, for example, covers 60 percent of the county and has had the highest per pupil transportation costs in the state.

(Radio Iowa) – A bill eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate would ensure the State Board of Health has sole authority for adding to the list of required vaccinations for children enrolled in Iowa schools or child care centers. The bill would prohibit school or city officials from requiring that children be vaccinated against Covid before they may return to local schools in the fall. And, if the state Board of Health were to require Covid shots, Republican Senator Tim Kraayenbrink of Fort Dodge says the bill parents may be able to opt out if that happens.

“The bill also provides that medical and religious exemptions from vaccinations apply still during the times of emergency and epidemic,” he says. Under CURRENT law, the state Board of Health can deny all exemptions from childhood vaccinations during public health emergencies. The bill cleared the Senate Education Committee unanimously. Iowa and other states require school-aged children be vaccinated against contagious diseases like polio and the measles before they enroll in school.

So far, California and Louisiana are the only states that have added Covid vaccinations to the list of required shots that are mandatory for school attendance.

(Atlantic, Iowa) – SHIFT ATL, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, will host their first SHIFT Network “meeting”/happy hour of
2022 on February 3rd, at The Telegraph building, located at 14 e 4th Street. The event will be come-and-go style from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. with appetizers and refreshments, featuring free samples from Council Bluffs brewery, Full Fledged Brewing Company.

The event is open to all current SHIFT Network members, those that are interested in joining, or just learning more about who SHIFT ATL is and what benefits SHIFT Network can provide. SHIFT ATL President Jessie Shiels says “We are excited that we are able to bring in a brewery for the evening to do a sampling at our event, as we have heard over and over again how great it would be to have a brewery in our community.” She says “You never know where one successful evening could lead to in the future, so we hope to do more SHIFT Network events like this throughout the coming year.”

The organization is excited to share their plan for 2022 and beyond with those in attendance. SHIFT Network membership starts at $100 per year and is a group of community-minded people interested in the economic development of Atlantic. If you’re unable to attend but would like to join SHIFT Network or get the updates, please email shiftatlantic@gmail.com or visit shiftatl.com/join.

For more information about SHIFT ATL or SHIFT Network, visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/shiftatl,
their website at shiftatl.org or by email at shiftatlantic@gmail.com.