FOCUS: Iowa headlines

Gipp named director of Iowa DNR

Gov. Terry Branstad last week named Chuck Gipp as the new director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He replaces Roger Lande, who resigned the position last week.

Mr. Gipp, 64, most recently served as DNR's deputy director. He was a long-time member of the Iowa House of Representatives from Decorah, first elected in 1990. Mr. Gipp rose to serve as House Majority Leader in 2003. He served in the House until 2008, when he did not seek re-election.

He played a major role in the funding of the renovation and rehabilitation of many public buildings throughout Iowa, including the recently completed State Hygienic Lab at the University of Iowa.

Genesis is first ACO in the Quad Cities region

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa announced this week a collaboration with Genesis Health System in Davenport to create an Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The new ACO will focus on coordinating patient care to improve quality, provide greater value, and slow increases in health care costs.  

Genesis Health System President and CEO, Doug Cropper, said he looks forward to seeing improvements in the quality and reductions in the cost of care, adding, "This collaboration is the next important step of a process that began for Genesis two years ago when we made the commitment to participate in the transformation of health care. Wellmark and Genesis have a long, shared collaboration of serving our customers and patients with a high quality of care and a high level of efficiency."

In an ACO, providers assume responsibility for managing a population of patients, both who are healthy and those who are in need of care, no matter where in the system the patients receive care. Wellmark offers the providers financial rewards if they reach established quality goals and slow the rate in increase in health care spend in caring for these patients. At the same time, providers will not earn their financial incentive if their quality declines or their costs run higher than expected.

John Forsyth, Wellmark chairman and CEO said, "Wellmark is pleased to enter into this ACO agreement with Genesis Health System, to improve the health care experience, and to help slow the rate of cost increases. This ACO was created to keep healthy people well and improve outcomes for our members when they need care."

The ACO will enhance Wellmark members' care in a variety of ways: providers encouraging their patients to take an active role in their health care, continued freedom to see the doctors of their choice, seamless customer experience when setting up an appointment, seeing multiple doctors, and receiving follow up care and a reduction of redundant care and services.

ISU, Department of Defense, help Iowa businesses land government contracts

Iowa State University's Extension and Outreach Center for Industrial Research and Service (CIRAS) has received a $435,000 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to support Iowa businesses through the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP).

PTAP, funded in part by the DOD through the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), provides assistance to business in marketing products and services to the federal, state and local governments. The services are offered at no cost or at a nominal cost. CIRAS manages the statewide PTAP Program in Iowa.

"Pursuing government contracts is an easy, cost-effective way to build business," explains CIRAS Program Manager David Bogaczyk. "Through PTAP, we're helping Iowa companies gain more government contracts, expand their businesses and, ultimately, hire more employees."

Mr. Bogaczyk and his colleagues work with Iowa businesses to understand the market potential of government procurement, reduce the barriers inherent in government contracting, and assist existing government contractors with market expansion. Specific assistance is provided in the areas of bid preparation, market research, contractor registration, and electronic commerce technologies.

For more information on CIRAS and PTAP, visit www.ciras.iastate.edu, or call 515-294-3420.

 

The warm weather helped efforts at the Iowa City landfill and officials say about half of the fire is now covered.Crews say the landfill should be covered in three to five days if the weather continues to cooperate. Officials say the smoke should be gone by early next week, but they warn that the fire will continue to smolder under the soil and there may be brief flare-ups. The fire has been burning since May 26th.

 

Drivers in Northeast Cedar Rapids will have even more construction to deal with early next week. The intersection of 1st avenue and Collins road will be reduced to one lane in each direction from Sunday afternoon until Monday morning. Crews will lay asphalt onto the roads. There will be traffic flaggers and four-way stops in the area -- and officials warn of lengthy delays.

 

The countdown begins for Ragbrai riders and preps move to Cedar Rapids this morning.Pre-ride cyclists spent last night in town and rode through the city today to check out the route. The pre-ride evaluated traffic concerns and roadway conditions. The pre-ride cyclists say the roads in Cedar Rapids look good and the only thing that they are worried about is weather. Ragbrai kicks off in just 49 days. 

 

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