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OBGYN and lawmakers discuss pregnancy-related bills at statehouse

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River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

On this legislative episode of River to River, we look at some of the bills regarding reproductive health that have advanced at the Iowa Capitol.

Dr. Emily Boevers, a practicing obstetrician-gynecologist from Waverly, joins the program to discuss bills including House File 2617, which would require schools to show a fetal development video to students in seventh through 12th grades, comparable to the video "Meet Baby Olivia," produced by an anti-abortion organization.

Boevers also weighs in on legislation proposed to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and infants from 60 days to 12 months, while limiting the number of those eligible to receive coverage.

Host Ben Kieffer and IPR Statehouse reporter Katarina Sostaric also discuss those bills with Iowa Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines, and Iowa House Rep. Devon Wood, R-New Market.

Guests:

  • Emily Boevers, MD
  • State Sen. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines
  • State Rep. Devon Wood, R-New Market, floor manager for HF 2583
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Katarina Sostaric is IPR's State Government Reporter, with expertise in state government and agencies, state officials and how public policy affects Iowans' lives. She's covered Iowa's annual legislative sessions, the closure of state agencies, and policy impacts on family planning services and access, among other topics, for IPR, NPR and other public media organizations. Sostaric is a graduate of the University of Missouri.
Samantha McIntosh is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University. Since 2022, McIntosh has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.