Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center (SEIRMC) and Henry County Health Center (HCHC) will no longer accept Medicare Advantage plans offered by Aetna, effective October 10, 2024, and Wellpoint (formerly Amerigroup), effective December 31, 2024, for clinic or hospital services. In addition, the new Medicare Advantage plan being offered by Molina for 2025 will not be accepted. All patients, regardless of insurance, will receive emergency care in SEIRMC and HCHC Emergency Departments.

This decision was made after the contract terms Great River Health presented to these carriers were not accepted.  The contract terms were reasonable and accepted by other insurance carriers.  Negotiations to extend the terms of the Aetna contract to the end of the year were unsuccessful.

Patients with these plans have been notified of this upcoming change by Great River Health. Staff are working with patients to navigate receiving continued care and finding an in-network provider.

Patients wishing to receive healthcare services at SEIRMC or HCHC that are covered by their insurance must enroll in an accepted plan during Medicare Open Enrollment which runs from October 15-December 7, 2024, with a plan effective date of January 1, 2025. Great River Health will continue to accept current Medicare Advantage plans offered by Humana, United Healthcare, and Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

Great River Health offers free, confidential, one-on-one counseling to help make informed decisions about Medicare and other health coverage options through the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). You can request an appointment with a volunteer SHIIP counselor at HCHC by calling 319-385-6774 or in Fort Madison, Keokuk, or West Burlington at 319-768-3342 or requesting an appointment online at https://outlook.office365.com/book/SHIIPBookings@grhs.net/

These schedules fill up quickly so other options for changing your plan during Annual Open Enrollment include contacting the insurance provider or a local health insurance agent. Clients can also contact the SHIIP office in Des Moines at 1-800-351-4664 or www.shiip.iowa.gov

Patients with questions can call Great River Health Patient Financial Services at 319.768.3625, option 2.

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this time.

“Combines are rolling in many areas of the state as fields are ready,” said Secretary Naig. “Though rain this past weekend may have slowed progress for some, harvest will continue ramping up throughout Iowa. The warmer and drier outlook into early October should provide an excellent window of opportunity for many farmers.”

Crop Report
Iowa continued to experience hot and dry conditions this week. These conditions allowed Iowa farmers 6.3 days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending September 22, 2024, according to the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Field activities included harvesting corn and soybeans.

Topsoil moisture condition rated 9 percent very short, 41 percent short, 49 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus. Subsoil moisture condition rated 8 percent very short, 37 percent short, 54 percent adequate and 1 percent surplus.

Corn in the dent stage or beyond reached 93 percent this week. Corn mature reached 61 percent, 5 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the average. Corn harvested for grain reached 5 percent, 5 days behind last year but equal to the average. Corn condition rated 77 percent good to excellent. Soybeans coloring or beyond reached 88 percent, 3 days behind last year but 2 days ahead of the five-year average. Soybean dropping leaves reached 59 percent, also 3 days behind last year and 2 days ahead of the average. Soybean harvested reached 9 percent this week, equal to last year but 1 day ahead of the average. Soybean condition was 78 percent good to excellent.

Pasture condition continued to fall and rated 48 percent good to excellent this week.

The Mt. Pleasant Fire Department responded to a pair of fires on either side of the weekend. The first one took place on Friday around 8:25am in the 200 Block of E South St. Firefighters responded to a trailer which had a significant amount of fire. Additionally, there was smoke damage to the trailer. New London Fire Department assisted in this call.

On the 22^nd at approximately 7:10pm, the fire department responded to the 2800 Block of Kentucky Avenue for a building on fire. It was determined that the structure, which was used for storage, was a total loss. New London Fire Department assisted with additional manpower, and a tanker was used to fight this fire. There were no injuries in either incidents.

The Mt. Pleasant Utilities Office has announced that the water department will be working on a water main tie in today 9/24/24 from 4 pm – 8 pm on N. Adams St. from the Railroad tracks to Henry St. Water will be shut off in this area. Those close by may notice some interruptions or low water pressure. If you have any question, please contact the Mt. Pleasant Utilities office at 319-385-2121. They apologize for an inconvenience.

The Burlington Fire Department responded to the 1200 Block of Gnahn St regarding a female with a cut on her hand on September 23^rd. The female was taken to the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center, where she told advised that the cut on her hand was actually a gunshot wound.

According to the female, a male had a gun to his head in her residence, and when she attempted to disarm him, she was shot in the hand. The male was identified as Colton Brown. Additionally, two children were inside the residence at the time of the shooting.

Upon further investigation by detectives of the Burlington Police Department, Brown was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Two counts of Child Endangerment. The female was treated for non-life threatening injuries to her hand.