Iowa
Equal access to lifesaving pharma should be a priority in Iowa
FILE – Insulin is displayed at Pucci’s Pharmacy in Sacramento, Calif., July 8, 2022. Reining within the hovering costs of insulin has to date been in elusive in Congress, though Democrats say they’re going to strive once more — as a part of their financial bundle that focuses on well being and local weather. (AP Picture/Wealthy Pedroncelli, File)
Longtime Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sends blended messages about his loyalty to Iowans and their entry to inexpensive insulin
America has a pharmaceutical downside — this we all know from the numerous tales of Large Pharma monopolizing treatment with excessive costs, disadvantaging on a regular basis People who won’t have well being care protection and even the power to afford the copay for important prescriptions. Regardless of vital governmental help with publicly funded analysis and tax breaks, pharmaceutical corporations are persevering with to cost exorbitant quantities for his or her treatment.
In the USA, over 37 million folks have diabetes, in line with the 2022 Nationwide Diabetes Statistics Report by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. In Iowa, over 242,000 folks have identified diabetes, in line with the American Diabetes Affiliation. And the AMA studies there’s an extra 70,000 folks in Iowa who’ve diabetes however don’t realize it but. It’s clear diabetes poses well being dangers to a good portion of the inhabitants in each Iowa and the USA at massive. However what’s much more dire is the amount of cash individuals are anticipated to pay for life-sustaining, generally lifesaving, treatment.
Insulin treats diabetes by serving to blood sugar enter the physique’s cells so it may be used for power. One vial of fast-acting insulin at present, although, can price upward of $300, in line with the Mayo Clinic. And even then, some high-deductible plans require sufferers to spend as much as $8,000 out-of-pocket earlier than their insurance coverage will spend a dime. In Iowa alone, medical bills for diabetes are estimated to price $2.6 billion — yearly — in line with AMA.
The plain answer is for Congress to place a cap on the price of insulin — and different important medicines — so all People can adequately deal with their diabetes — or different afflictions. And the Home got here via after they handed the Reasonably priced Insulin Now Act again in March, capping a month’s provide of chosen insulin merchandise at $35 beneath non-public insurance coverage and Medicare — or 25 p.c of a plan’s negotiated value (after any value concessions), whichever is much less, starting in 2023. Nevertheless, the Senate crushed the hopes of tens of millions of People this month when it voted to dam the insulin cap for privately insured sufferers. One the deciding votes? Our very personal Sen. Chuck Grassley.
Regardless of claiming he’s for the $35 insulin cap in a recent Wayne County town hall, Grassley was one of many votes in opposition to the cap. He wasn’t alone in his vote as Sen. Joni Ernst joined him. Who’re we if we don’t maintain out elected representatives accountable? Who’re we if we can’t demand that the phrases they converse in native city halls ring true within the chamber, the place their choices have an effect on our lives on a regular basis?
In our current previous, we’ve seen how such exorbitant prices can result in a deadly final result because of rationing. And in a brand new 2022 Yale research, researchers discovered 14 p.c of people that use insulin in the USA face “catastrophic” ranges of spending on insulin and located these folks spent no less than 40 p.c of their submit subsistence earnings — cash after meals and housing — on insulin. Yale researchers even say these estimates are conservative with the “excessive monetary toxicity” that folks with diabetes expertise.
My nice aunt died from diabetic ketoacidosis as a result of she couldn’t afford her insulin treatment, main her blood sugar to develop into extremely acidic, her cells dehydrated and her physique to cease functioning. It’s a horrible method to die — and utterly avoidable if everybody had equal entry to inexpensive treatment. You most likely know somebody who has diabetes. Think about the catastrophic final result in the event that they couldn’t afford their prescription — treatment obligatory for his or her livelihood and survival. They might find yourself like my nice aunt simply.
Take note of the phrases and subsequent motion — or lack thereof — of our leaders proper now, as a result of midterm season is arising. And although there are points with our voting system, your vote nonetheless issues, as does your civil motion. Present up for folks. Assist them out when you may. And demand higher from the individuals who have a big influence on how you reside your life.
Nichole Shaw is a Gazette editorial fellow. Feedback: nichole.shaw@thegazette.com
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The University of Iowa men’s golf team finished two rounds of play at the Fighting Irish Classic on Sunday. The Hawkeyes currently sit in sixth place out of 15 teams.
Sophomore Noah Kent and junior Gage Messingham are both leading the Hawkeyes, tied for 8th place overall. Kent shot 1-over (71) in the first round and 1-under (69) in the second round, finishing with a total score of 140. Messingham join Kent as the only other Hawkeye to go under-par today in a round.
Sophomore Max Tjoa is tied for 37th place, shooting rounds of 74 and 72, with a total score of 146. Senior Chance Rinkol posted scores of 71 and 77 in the first and second rounds, respectively, and sits tied for 51st place with a score of 148. Senior Josh Lundmark recorded rounds of 79 and 71, finishing tied for 64th place with a total score of 150.
HAWKEYE SCORECARD
| 6/15 | Team | +5 | +3 | 148 |
| T8 | Gage Messingham | -1 | +1 | 140 |
| T8 | Noah Kent | +1 | -1 | 140 |
| T37 | Max Tjoa | +4 | +2 | 146 |
| T51 | Chance Rinkol | +1 | +7 | 148 |
| T64 | Josh Lundmark | +9 | +1 | 150 |
HEAR FROM HEAD COACH TYLER STITH
“Today was a very strong team performance with Noah and Gage leading the way. We showed a lot of grit all day but especially down the stretch. We’re in a great position heading into the final round.”
UP NEXT
The final round of the Fighting Irish Classic is set to tee off on Monday morning.
Nebraska volleyball entered October a perfect 38-0 against Iowa all-time. That number is now 39-0.
The No. 2 Huskers (14-1, 4-0 Big Ten) swept the Hawkeyes (8-8, 2-2 Big Ten), 25-17, 25-11, 25-13. This is the eighth-straight sweep for Nebraska over Iowa and 11th-straight win since falling at SMU.
Nebraska’s offense hit a blistering .404, led by 10 kills on .400 hitting from Merritt Beason.
The story of the day was the middles, though. With Andi Jackson out again, Leyla Blackwell earned the start alongside Rebekah Allick. The pair notched nine kills each, with Blackwell hitting .692 and Allick hitting .583. They also combined for five blocks.
Bergen Reilly dished out 35 assists.
Iowa managed to hit just .155, but did have the player with a match-high for kills: Michel Urquahart at 11.
Nebraska is back in action Friday, hosting No. 10 Purdue.
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Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
Video: Jay Higgins on Iowa’s defensive performance in loss to Ohio State
Jay Higgins discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 35-7 loss to Ohio State.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz made his view of the quarterback position pretty clear after Saturday’s 35-7 loss at Ohio State.
No, the Hawkeyes are not headed for a change at quarterback, Ferentz said.
“We’re not ready, I think, to have a controversy at that position,” the longtime head coach said.
The loss to Ohio State again illustrated the gap between Iowa and national powerhouses. The Hawkeyes haven’t beaten one of the three giants of the Big Ten — Penn State, Michigan or Ohio State — since a 2021 win over the Nittany Lions. Against ranked opponents last season, Iowa was beaten a combined 92-0.
Perhaps you could point to the fact that Iowa at least scored on Saturday as progress. But in reality, Saturday’s margin was similar to those three games last season.
More: Leistikow: Rating concern levels for Iowa football at quarterback, offensive line, defense
The quarterback position wasn’t good enough on Saturday. Cade McNamara finished the game 14-of-20 passing for 98 yards and three turnovers — two fumbles and one interception. Just like the game itself, the quarterback play fit an old, tired narrative.
When, if ever, will Iowa’s quarterback woes finally be solved?
To be clear, quarterback production was not the only deficient area on Saturday. The Hawkeyes were beaten in the trenches — on both sides of the ball — and outgained 203-116 on the ground. Iowa’s defense also gave up four touchdowns through the air.
After Iowa trailed just 7-0 at the break, it got ugly in the second half. Ohio State is a legitimate national championship threat, and the Hawkeyes didn’t do much in the third and fourth quarters to show they could compete at that level.
“The bottom line is, you’ve got to play clean football against a team like this,” Ferentz said. “We weren’t able to do that. They get some credit on that, too.”
Kirk Ferentz on Cade McNamara after loss to Ohio State: ‘Cade will be fine’
Kirk Ferentz discusses a variety of topics after Iowa’s 35-7 loss to Ohio State.
Since the 2019 departure of Nate Stanley, Iowa’s quarterback struggles have been no secret. Whether it be Spencer Petras or Alex Padilla or Deacon Hill, Iowa hasn’t gotten necessary production from that position. There was optimism that McNamara, once a prized transfer from Michigan, would be the solution.
Through the first 10 games of his Iowa career, McNamara has fallen short of that.
The lowest bar for McNamara to clear as Iowa’s quarterback — taking care of the ball — is something he was unable to do on Saturday.
McNamara’s turnovers came on three consecutive possessions to open the second half, all but erasing any first-half hope that Iowa had managed to build.
Because Iowa lives in such thin margins, avoiding turnovers is paramount, even more so against a team like Ohio State. The lack of ball security was a reason the quarterback position was such a disaster at Iowa last season. Hill finished the season with a ratio of eight interceptions to five passing touchdowns.
McNamara’s touchdown pass-to-interception ratio this season is now 3-to-3. He was without a turnover against Illinois State, Troy and Minnesota, but coughing up the ball proved costly against Iowa State and Ohio State. An early second-half turnover against Iowa State this season gave the Cyclones life. Three against Ohio State on Saturday shut the door on a possible upset.
“We evaluate every position week to week,” Ferentz said about quarterback. “But we’re comfortable. I think Cade’s improving. I really do. It sounds funny with the turnovers today, I think he seems more comfortable. His timing seems better. And he was getting the ball out really well in the first half. We have to improve as a collective offense.”
It might go against popular opinion but to Ferentz’s point, McNamara started Saturday’s contest well, completing 10 of his first 12 passes. There is, however, a gaping hole in that argument.
Completion efficiency is not McNamara’s biggest issue. In fact, in the last two games — against Minnesota and Ohio State — he was a combined 25-of-39, marking major improvement from a putrid 13-of-29 outing against Iowa State.
But that extremely efficient stretch against Ohio State matters less if it amounts to zero points and also means turning the ball over three times later on.
In his Iowa career, McNamara has not yet thrown a touchdown against a power conference opponent (granted, a redzone package with backup Brendan Sullivan was implemented earlier this season, making it more difficult for McNamara to do so). But more troubling than the lack of touchdowns are the fact that all three of his interceptions this season have come against power conference opponents (one was a last ditch heave against Iowa State). You can also add the two fumbles against Ohio State to that turnover tally.
Iowa didn’t get McNamara just to beat up on lower level programs. When the competition level rises, he needs to do so with it.
“We just can’t turn the ball over,” McNamara said Saturday. “We had three drives in a row with turnovers. That just can’t happen. They just came out in the second half and they played well. They’re are a good defense and they’re a good team.”
You can argue ad nauseam against Ferentz’s assertion that McNamara is improving. But bottom line is, the fact that this is even a discussion is a problem. It was reasonable to think that McNamara would’ve been better than this through five games.
Iowa doesn’t need its quarterback to be prolific. Running back Kaleb Johnson solves a lot for the offense with the way he’s been playing. Iowa just needs McNamara to take care of the ball and make defenses pay on occasion when the chance presents itself.
In critical moments, that hasn’t been the case.
Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson reacts to 35-7 loss at Ohio State
The Hawkeyes junior wound up rushing 15 times for 86 yards, but most of those came after the game was decided.
Through the first 10 games of his Iowa career — split between 2023 and 2024 due to injury — McNamara hasn’t done much to validate the excitement that once surrounded him. Ferentz has preached patience for someone who has been out for an extended period — on multiple occasions. That faith in him could still bear results.
But time is becoming of the essence for McNamara to change the narrative.
Said Ferentz: “Cade will be fine.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
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