An allocation of federal coronavirus-relief money means that agencies that assist Iowans who are victims of crimes will not face immediate budget cuts. That means current service levels should be able to continue. But the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence said it and other groups are worried about funding for Read more…
COMPILED BY EMILY BARSKE WOOD, SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR This coverage is from the Business Record’s annual survey on women’s and gender issues as part of our Fearless initiative. While nonscientific, we believe the results of this questionnaire illustrate current opinions about Iowa women’s equity in and outside of work. Read previous coverage here. We asked Read more…
Most abortions will soon be illegal in Iowa. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Iowa Constitution does not provide special protection for abortion rights and that the government has a rational basis for requiring most pregnancies to continue after about six weeks following a person’s last menstrual period. A law Read more…
Lawmakers approved numerous plans that will directly affect Iowans before they adjourned April 20. Their inaction on other topics was in some cases just as notable. Below is a brief survey from Fearless of legislation and other state government developments most directly relevant to women and girls. We intend to Read more…
BY MACEY SHOFROTH, FEARLESS CONTRIBUTOR Editor’s note: “Victim” and “survivor” are both common terms used for someone who has experienced sexual assault or domestic violence, and they will be used in this article interchangeably. We recognize that folks often prefer one term over another.Sexual assault and domestic violence are pervasive issues Read more…
The Affordable Care Act requires most health insurance plans to pay for screening mammograms intended to facilitate early detection of breast cancer. But in at least 10% of cases, women are called back to get secondary scans, and the cost of diagnostic mammograms and other procedures is not fully covered Read more…
Improving access to child care has been a bipartisan priority at the Iowa Statehouse for years. Although no single strategy will bridge the gap between the number of spaces available and what the state’s families need, lawmakers and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds are continuing to chip away. The major effort that has emerged so Read more…
A proposal to extend the duration of Medicaid coverage for pregnant Iowans has widespread support, but some activists are concerned about the state potentially lowering the income threshold to participate in the program, saying it would shut out low-wage working moms who desperately need prenatal care. Many of the people Read more…
BY BUSINESS RECORD STAFF Iowa advocacy groups that focus on improving maternal and infant health are coming together tomorrow for the inaugural Maternal and Infant Health Day at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines. Members of the public who wish to share their postpartum stories or voice their support of Read more…
Republicans who control the Iowa Legislature and governor’s office are signaling their intent to allow some pregnant women covered by Medicaid to keep coverage for 12 months after the end of pregnancy. In her Condition of the State address Tuesday evening, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said she is proposing lengthening Read more…