Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa has written to two drug companies on behalf of an Iowa hospital that is not receiving required discounts on two drugs, despite a federal program to help uninsured patients with deeply discounted drugs.  Grassley is seeking information from the companies and also more oversight from the federal agency in charge of the drug program to ensure the companies provide the required discounts.

"The program is designed to help patients who have no means of receiving prescription drugs except through a hospital or community health center that agrees to treat them," Grassley said.  "The federal agency in charge of the program has to make sure the program is working.  That means making sure hospitals get the discounted drugs they're entitled to receive so they can treat patients in need."

Grassley wrote to CSL Behring, the maker of a drug called Kcentra, used as an antidote for blood thinner poisoning; and to Pacira Pharmaceuticals, the maker of a drug called Exparel, used in surgical closings, on behalf of an Iowa hospital that is having difficulty obtaining the required discounts on the drugs through the federal 340B program.  The constituent hospital, which prefers not to be named at this time, brought the concerns to Grassley's attention in July, and Grassley's staff has been working with the Health Resources Services Administration, which oversees the 340B program, and the constituent hospital since that time to resolve the problem.

Grassley, a long-time supporter of the 340B program to extend the Medicaid drug discount to the most vulnerable of patients at covered entities, has worked on his own and with other members to bring greater transparency and federal agency oversight to the program.  Over the past several years, he has written letters seeking information on uses of the program by both drug manufacturers and hospitals and other entities eligible for the drug discounts under the program.

The letters are available here and here.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today as the current farm bill expires at midnight. The Senate passed a bipartisan farm bill earlier this year, while at the same time the House was unable to pass its own comprehensive version.  This led to House leaders playing politics with Iowa farmers, rural communities and those who rely on food stamps by passing two separate pieces, the agriculture portion of the farm bill along with the nutrition portion. Congressman Loebsack introduced the Senate bill in the House after Republican leaders failed to pass a comprehensive farm bill. As of today, the House has not appointed people to work out the differences with the Senate. At midnight tonight when the law expires, it will revert back to the permanent law from 1938 and 1949.

"As the clock ticks down towards midnight when the current farm bill is set to expire, it is shameful that we are still nowhere near passing long-term, commonsense legislation that our farmers and rural economy need. House Leaders have refused to show any leadership on this issue and have left Iowa farmers, our rural communities, and those who rely on nutrition assistance to shoulder the burden. There is simply no excuse why we should not already have a farm bill that's been signed into law. I have been fighting to get a bipartisan farm bill signed into law and will continue to do so. We must pass a long-term, comprehensive farm bill without further delay."

Ham, Sausage, Bacon, Chops, Ribs, Tenderloin. No wonder we are excited to celebrate National Pork Month at the Shed! Although we are serving up delicious pork dishes all year long, we are planning some exciting additions for the month of October. Over the years The Machine Shed has won many awards for our pork dishes. This October we will be featuring award winning pork dishes and customer favorites from our past including The Smoke House Pork Chop, The Pioneer, and The Tangy Tenderloin. Be sure to try our new favorite, The Caramel Apple Bacon Pork Loin. When you stop in make sure you sign up for our Pork Giveaway packages compliments of the Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota Pork Producers. We will draw winners at the end of the month.

Check out our Machine Shed Blog to get our Fall Harvest eBook featuring delicious Pork Recipes as well as our Facebook page for more Pork Month fun. The Machine Shed is located at Northwest Blvd and I-80 in Davenport, IA.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds, in conjunction with Sen. Tom Harkin, today announced that they will co-host a forum on "Empowering Individuals with Disabilities through Employment" on October 17, 2013.

"This forum will provide a great opportunity to bring together business leaders, individuals with disabilities and various stakeholders to share best practices and highlight individuals with disabilities who have excelled in the workforce or successfully started their own business," said Gov. Branstad.

"This event will explore avenues to enable all Iowans an opportunity to contribute in the workplace and to help create jobs and grow family incomes throughout our state," said Lt. Gov. Reynolds. "We look forward to learning from business leaders who have established best practices for training, hiring, and retaining individuals with disabilities as an important part of their strategy to improve their business's bottom line."

Branstad added: "Senator Harkin has been a long-time advocate for individuals with disabilities and we look forward to co-hosting this discussion on empowering individuals with disabilities through employment."

"Individuals with disabilities throughout Iowa are an untapped resource," said Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.  "We should work together to ensure their abilities, skills, and knowledge are put to work for the betterment of all Iowans.  I commend the Governor and Lt. Governor for bringing this conversation to our state. "

Further details on the event follow:

Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds, and Sen. Harkin host forum on "Empowering Individuals with Disabilities through Employment."

FFA Enrichment Center

1055 SW Prairie Trail Parkway

Ankeny, IA

*Note: There will be resource information on display an hour before (10 a.m. - 11 a.m.) and one hour after (1 p.m. - 2 p.m.) the official discussions.

RSVP: There is no cost to attend, but for planning purposes, interested individuals are asked to RSVP to Megan.OMalley@iowa.gov or via phone at 515.725.3533 by Monday, October 14, 2013.

Background: Join business leaders, individuals with disabilities and various stakeholders for two panels as we explore best practices for employing persons with disabilities and improving the bottom line of Iowa businesses.  The panel discussions will provide an opportunity to hear directly from employers, individuals with disabilities who have excelled in the workforce, and individuals with disabilities who have successfully started their own businesses.  Learn about best practices, resources, and strategies for recruitment, accommodations, retention and advancement, as well as the benefits of employing individuals with disabilities.  By empowering individuals with disabilities through employment we can all take steps to create jobs and grow family incomes.  David Mitchell, the Administrator of Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation, will moderate two panel discussions with various stakeholders, including additional state leaders.  In addition, businesses and support organizations will share information on best practices and available resources.  Specific objectives of the forum will be to renew a discussion to:

• Encourage and Inspire Individuals with Disabilities to Help Get More Iowans Working
• Engage Business Community to Take Next Steps to Empower Individuals with Disabilities
• Show How Businesses Can Strengthen Their Bottom Line by Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
• Motivate Relevant Stakeholders to Redouble Efforts
• Highlight Success Stories of Individuals in the Workplace
• Highlight Individuals Who Have Started Their Own Business
• Highlight Businesses Who Have Provided Leadership and Developed Best Practices
• Clarify Existing Resources for Businesses to Leverage
• Discuss Challenges and Solicit Recommendations to Overcome Challenges

Accommodations: If you are a person with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Heidi Smith, Heidi.Smith@iowa.gov, 515-725-2816 by 4:30 p.m. Thursday, October 10, 2013.