Our efforts to expand access to quality, affordable health care got a lot of attention this year, but it wasn’t Iowa’s only health care success. Legislators listened to Iowans and worked together on a variety of initiatives that will help improve our health and wellbeing. They include:
• Ensuring Iowans with disabilities and mental health concerns continue to get the help they need, as Iowa transitions to a more efficient regional system of providing services (HF 160, SF 452).
• Investing in supports and services for families living with autism (SF 446, HF 648, HF 638).
• Getting kids screened for vision problems so that they are prepared to be successful in school (SF 419).
• Offering convenience by allowing licensed pharmacists to administer vaccines and immunizations (SF 353).
• Providing funding to inspect and investigate complaints at Iowa health care facilities (HF 603).
• Expanding access to tobacco cessation counseling through the Iowa Tobacco Quitline (SF 202).
• Preventing fraud by providing more tools for Iowa’s Department of Human Services to identify problems, collect overpayments and assess civil penalties associated with Medicaid (SF 357).
The improvements and investments Iowa makes each year have big payoffs. Iowa now ranks #9 in the nation when it comes to being physically, emotionally and mentally healthy, according to the 2012 Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. We’ve moved up from the #16 position and aim to be #1 by 2016. Find out more about Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative at www.iowahealthieststate.com.
When it comes to the health of our kids, Iowa is also showing gains. In the national Kids Count survey for 2013, Iowa ranks seventh in health, up from ninth last year. The number of children without health insurance has dropped dramatically as have low birth weight babies. Find out more at www.kidscount.org.
We’ve got some healthy momentum going, but it’s just a start. If you have ideas for how we can improve our health and wellbeing here in Iowa, please share them with us.