Tony Leys
USA TODAY
Des Moines, IA, United States
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Past articles by Tony:
'Public health has lost the war': States legalize raw milk, despite public health warnings
Distrust of public health officials who say raw milk is dangerous is fueling demand for unpasteurized milk products, leaders say. → Read More
Mental Health Care by Video Fills Gaps in Rural Nursing Homes
In-person mental health care is hard to arrange in rural nursing homes, so video chats with faraway professionals are filling the gap. → Read More
After People on Medicaid Die, Some States Aggressively Seek Repayment From Their Estates
States take drastically different approaches to recovering Medicaid money from deceased participants’ estates. Demands for repayment of Medicaid spending can drain the assets a person leaves behind… → Read More
Addiction Treatment Proponents Urge Rural Clinicians to Pitch In by Prescribing Medication
The number of U.S. health care providers certified to prescribe buprenorphine more than doubled in the past four years, and treatment advocates hope to see that trend continue. → Read More
Mental Health Crisis Teams Aren’t Just for Cities Anymore
In many cities, social workers and counselors are responding to mental health emergencies that used to be solely handled by police. That approach is spreading to rural areas even though mental heal… → Read More
As State Institutions Close, Families of Longtime Residents Face Agonizing Choices
Iowa, under federal pressure to improve care for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities, is set to join 45 other states that have closed most or all of their state institutions for … → Read More
Nurse Midwives Step Up to Provide Prenatal Care After Two Rural Hospitals Shutter Birthing Centers
Dozens of Iowa hospitals have closed their birthing units. A team of University of Iowa nurse midwives can’t reopen them, but they’ve found a way to provide prenatal checkups and other crucial serv… → Read More
Rural Hospital Rescue Program Is Met With Skepticism From Administrators
A new federal rescue program that pays rural hospitals to shutter underused inpatient units and focus solely on emergency rooms and outpatient care hasn’t generated much interest yet. → Read More
Montana Hires a Medicaid Director With a Managed-Care Past
Montana, one of about a dozen states still managing its own Medicaid programs, has a new Medicaid director who championed handing the management of the program to private companies in Iowa and Kans… → Read More
Register photographer encounters tornado near Atlantic; 'It went right over the top of me'
Des Moines Register photographer Bryon Houlgrave was lucky to survive a western Iowa tornado. "It went right over the top of me." → Read More
Register photographer encounters tornado near Atlantic; 'It went right over the top of me'
Des Moines Register photographer Bryon Houlgrave was lucky to survive a western Iowa tornado. "It went right over the top of me." → Read More
Register photographer encounters tornado near Atlantic; 'It went right over the top of me'
Des Moines Register photographer Bryon Houlgrave was lucky to survive a western Iowa tornado. "It went right over the top of me." → Read More
Register photographer encounters tornado near Atlantic; 'It went right over the top of me'
Des Moines Register photographer Bryon Houlgrave was lucky to survive a western Iowa tornado. "It went right over the top of me." → Read More
Judge says feds can't require COVID vaccine for health care workers in Iowa, 9 other states
Federal judge calls vaccine mandate "an unprecedented demand to federally dictate the private medical decisions of millions of Americans." → Read More
Judge says feds can't require COVID vaccine for health care workers in Iowa, 9 other states
Federal judge calls vaccine mandate "an unprecedented demand to federally dictate the private medical decisions of millions of Americans." → Read More
Judge says feds can't require COVID vaccine for health care workers in Iowa, 9 other states
Federal judge calls vaccine mandate "an unprecedented demand to federally dictate the private medical decisions of millions of Americans." → Read More
Judge says feds can't require COVID vaccine for health care workers in Iowa, 9 other states
Federal judge calls vaccine mandate "an unprecedented demand to federally dictate the private medical decisions of millions of Americans." → Read More
Most Des Moines hospital staff comply with vaccine mandates by getting shots or exemptions
All of Des Moines' hospitals require staff to be vaccinated or obtain exemptions, which could be easier to get under a new state law. → Read More
Iowans don't need to prove eligibility for COVID booster shots: 'A lot of it is on the honor system'
Unlike last spring, when thousands of Iowans scrambled for scarce vaccine, booster shots are now widely available at pharmacies and clinics. → Read More
Medicaid management firms' record on appeals shows illegal denial of care, Iowa auditor says
"They need to start caring about people instead of looking at the bottom dollar," says Iowan with paralysis whose case is cited in auditor's report. → Read More