Natalie Krebs
Health ReporterExpertise: Telling stories about health, Medicaid and maternal health
Education: Masters degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Bachelors degree from the University of Oregon
Favorite Iowa Destination: Yellow River State Forest
Experience:
- Has written features on abortion access and women's health care in Iowa, the opioid epidemic, state health agencies, rural health care access and medical care for elders
- Served as a fellow with the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism in 2021, producing an in-depth three part series on COVID-19's impact on Iowa's meatpacking industry and its workers
- Regularly contributes to Side Effects Public Media, a regional health news collaboration exploring the impacts of place, policy and economics on Americans' health
- Has produced features for Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Here & Now and Native News
- Has attended the Association of Health Care Journalists annual conference
- Is an award-winning reporter, including a Best Health/Medical Reporting award from the Public Media Journalists Association in 2024 for "Fixing Understaffed Nursing Homes"
My Favorite Stories
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An Iowa law that bans abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy is poised to go into effect next week. The law could have rippling effects on abortion care across the Midwest. -
Seniors who are hospitalized with even a minor illness or injury are at risk of "hospital-acquired disability," which puts them at risk of rehospitalizations and a downward spiral that could eventually land them in a nursing home. -
Thirteen states across the U.S., including much of the Midwest, introduced bills this year that could give some rights to embryos and fetuses usually associated with people. None passed but people in the fertility world are concerned that lawmakers will try again and what that means for reproductive rights. -
New proposed rules for nursing home staffing levels by the Biden administration elicited mixed reactions. Nursing home workers say they’re much needed and long overdue. But some Republican governors echo the long-term care industry’s concerns. They say the measures will push some facilities to shut down. -
Recent studies have found elevated levels of nitrate in drinking water correlates with health issues like cancer and thyroid disease — even below what current federal standards deem as safe. But health research necessary to take federal action is slow-going, and some environmental health experts are concerned officials aren’t acting fast enough.
My Latest Stories
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Gov. Kim Reynolds signed what she called the "Iowa MAHA bill" into law Wednesday with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. by her side. -
Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Josh Turek and Zach Wahls participated in their second debate Thursday night ahead of the June 2 primary. -
Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Josh Turek and Zach Wahls are facing a competitive primary as they attempt to flip Republican Joni Ernst's open Senate seat this fall. -
Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Josh Turek and Zach Wahls debated for an hour Tuesday night on Iowa PBS. They discussed issues like campaign finance reform, Social Security, immigration, agriculture and healthcare, while also addressing questions of electability. -
Central Iowa Water Works leaders said data indicates central Iowans may face another lawn watering ban due to high nitrate levels unless residents limit water use. -
The nonprofit Commonwealth Fund found disparities among racial and ethnic groups in Iowa, finding white Iowans have the best healthcare outcomes, quality and access. -
Democratic U.S. Senate candidates Josh Turek and Zach Wahls appeared in a joint forum at the State Historical Society of Iowa in Des Moines Wednesday, where they answered questions on issues like campaign finance, health care, immigration and water quality. -
State officials hope to bring in up to $1 billion in federal funds over the next five years to improve rural health infrastructure, but some say it will do little to help rural hospitals weather looming Medicaid spending reductions. -
A report by the Iowa Environmental Council and Harkin Institute looked at peer-reviewed research on environmental factors and cancer. -
New data from the Guttmacher Institute shows the number of clinician-provided abortions dropped 22% from 2024 to 2025.
