rural health

University of Iowa researchers are about a fourth of the way through a state-funded research project examining why Iowa has some of the nation's highest cancer rates.

Farmers face a number of challenges these days, from higher input costs to fewer available resources. The stress of it all can take a toll, not only on their livelihood, but on their mental well-being.

Iowa has been awarded a $209 million federal grant to expand and improve health care across the state — the first installment of what officials say could total $1 billion over the next five years. The funding is part of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program and is aimed at strengthening access to care, equipment and workforce development in rural communities. Leaders from Iowa’s critical access hospitals talk about what this funding could mean on the ground and why they say it falls far short of what rural providers are bracing for. We also discuss workforce shortages, the challenge of recruiting specialists like OB-GYNs, and the “hub and spoke” model Gov. Kim Reynolds has promoted to reshape rural health care delivery. Later, host Charity Nebbe announces Talk of Iowa’s 2026 Book Club selections with IPR talk show producer, Caitlin Troutman.

The One Big Beautiful Bill includes sweeping changes to Medicaid, and is estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to increase the number of people uninsured by 10 million. We hear from Des Moines resident who insured by Medicaid about what these changes could mean for him, including new work requirements. Then, we hear more about how this overhaul will impact Iowans from UI professor and Rural Policy Research Director Keith Mueller. We also talk with a rural hospital administrator about how they expect to lose millions of dollars annually due to these changes, and we hear from a rural Emergency Medical Services responder on how this could widen the financial deficit they already face when providing care to Medicaid patients.

A sociologist discusses the unique challenges rural communities face concerning climate change and health care. Then, a look at the Midwest Crossword Tournament.

Iowa and other states have recently passed laws that aim to help small, local pharmacies stay open. Also, a University of Iowa professor has launched an app to help first responders communicate with patients who are nonverbal or don't speak English.