MONDAY, JULY 8, 2019  |  IN THIS ISSUE
Para1 New medical code opens up opportunities for IDx medtech firm
In a boon for Coralville-based medtech firm IDx, the American Medical Association has accepted a new medical code for automated point-of-care retinal imaging that will facilitate the correct billing for IDx-DR, an FDA-cleared autonomous AI system that detects diabetic retinopathy.
 
The lack of an appropriate current procedural terminology (CPT) code for IDx's innovative diagnostic test had previously slowed adoption of the technology, as it complicated billing and reimbursement questions between care providers and health insurers, according to company leaders.
 
"This represents a significant milestone for autonomous AI in health care," said Dr. Michael Abramoff, founder and CEO of IDx, in a release. "By accepting this new CPT code, the AMA's CPT Editorial panel has established a billing code for an AI-enabled system, which can help foster further adoption of autonomous AI technologies in health care. This will make billing the IDx-DR exam more straightforward for our customers, who have been billing for this sight-saving exam."
 
The new CPT code for automated point-of-care retinal imaging, scheduled to be effective in January 2021, will streamline the coding and billing process for health care providers using IDx-DR. The code description may be further refined prior to its scheduled implementation.

The AMA also  issued a press release last month further outlining policy recommendations for AI in health care. That policy includes advocating for "payment and coverage of all health care AI systems that are conditioned on complying with all appropriate federal and state laws and regulations, including but not limited to those governing patient safety, efficacy, equity, truthful claims, privacy, and security as well as state medical practice and licensure laws," among other criteria.
 
"It is exciting to see that our work aligns with the AMA's policy recommendations," Dr. Abramoff added. "When we developed and validated IDx-DR, it was our priority to show that the system was safe, effective and equitable for use in patient care. We are thankful the AMA sees the value of supporting payment and coverage for AI health systems that meet rigorous validation."
 
IDx-DR received a  historic FDA clearance in 2018 when it became the first autonomous AI diagnostic system to be cleared for use without needing a physician to interpret the results. This enables non-eye care providers to use IDx-DR to make an immediate diagnostic assessment for diabetic retinopathy at the point of care, without requiring telemedicine or specialist review.
 
The system has since been used to test thousands of people with diabetes across the United States and Europe, and is currently in use across a wide range of front-line care settings, including endocrinology, internal medicine and community health clinics.
Linn County Public Health (LCPH) is expanding the Wood-Burning Change-Out Program - a voluntary program to improve air quality by providing vouchers to eligible homeowners to remove and replace old, non-certified wood appliances with cleaner burning, EPA-certified appliances.
 
"This is the first wood-burning appliance change-out offered in the state of Iowa," Pramod Dwivedi, Linn County Public Health director, stated in a press release.  "A stove purchased today is cleaner-burning and releases fewer harmful air pollutants and carcinogens."
 
Eligible participants must be homeowners in the Alliant Energy gas and/or electric service area, use an uncertified wood-burning appliance as the primary or significant source of heat for the primary residence, and live in Linn County. Incentives range from $1,000-$8,000, depending on the replacement appliance purchased, with an additional $250 for participants who are active duty or veterans of the U.S Armed Forces or active/retired first responders. To learn more about the program and eligibility requirements, visit www.burncleanlinn.org  or call LCPH at (319) 892-6000.
 
Funds for this program are limited and scheduled to end by Feb. 15, 2021 - or once all incentive funds have been awarded - whichever comes first. This project is funded by a consent decree settlement between the U.S. EPA, the state of Iowa, Linn County and the Sierra Club and Interstate Power and Light.
Chandice Covington
Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids has named Chandice Covington dean of the Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health's new leadership team.
 
Ms. Covington, who will lead the nursing and health team, is a board-certified primary care pediatric nurse practitioner. Her research interests include improving the health of women, children and families in domestic and global settings. With 45 years of professional experience, she most recently was a professor of nursing at Linfield College School of Nursing in Portland, Oregon. 
 
Ms. Covington has two prior dean appointments, serving as dean and vice president of Kaplan University School of Nursing, and dean and professor at the University of North Dakota College of Nursing & Professional Disciplines.
 
"I am honored to be joining the dedicated and experienced nursing and health faculty and staff at the Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health," Ms. Covington said in a release. "My goals are to build upon the illustrious reputation of the college, started and nurtured by the leadership of founding dean Dr. Mary Tarbox and her predecessor Sister James Marie Donahue." 
 
A fellow in the American Academy of Nursing, Ms. Covington earned her Ph.D.
in clinical nursing research from the University of Michigan, and her bachelor's and master's, both in nursing, from the University of Texas. 
 
Ms. Covington began July 1, replacing Mary Tarbox, who retired and was awarded professor emeritus status after 42 years with Mount Mercy's nursing faculty.
 
The full nursing and health leadership team includes:
  • Ms. Covington, dean, Martin-Herold College of Nursing & Health
  • Kim Bro, chair, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
  • Candace Chihak, director, RNؘ-BSN
  • Sharon Guthrie, director, Graduate Nursing Programs
  • Mary Ann Hindman Grobstich, chair, Health Programs
Holmes Murphy is hosting an event from 8:30-11:30 a.m. July 11 to highlight the key issues surrounding America's health care system as the 2020 presidential election approaches. The event will be held at Elmcrest County Club, Zach Johnson Drive NE, Cedar Rapids.
 
Den Bishop, Holmes Murphy president, will discuss what is important to business owners and company leaders as a sneak preview into his upcoming book , "The Voter's Guide to Healthcare."
  
Topics will include:
  • The U.S. health care ecosystem
  • The Affordable Care Act
  • Price discrimination
  • Payment reform
  • The pharmaceutical "border wall"
  • Medicare for all
To register for the seminar, visit think.holmesmurphy.com.
CREDIT / CEDAR RAPIDS FLOOD THE RUN
Registration is open for the Flood the Run, a 2.7-mile fun run/walk around Ellis Park in Cedar Rapids on Aug. 10 benefiting two community organizations:  The Salvation Army and Matthew 25 . The first wave starts at 9 a.m. and waves will start every 10 minutes after that. The last wave starts at 10:50 a.m. 

The course contains water-themed obstacles including a human car wash, rain tunnel, inflatables, a bucket toss, giant slip-n-slide, activities after the run and more.

Register online at www.crfloodtherun.com . Early bird rates for adults (11 years and older) are $30 and children (10 years and younger) are $15 if registered by July 21. Teams of 10 or more runners will receive $2 off each member, and teams of 25 or more will receive $5 off each member when they register.  
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NAME SYM PRICE CHG %CHG
AEGON AEG 5.09 -0.05 -0.97%
Alliant Energy  LNT 49.93 -0.02 -0.04%
Casey's General Stores CASY 157.64 -1.36 -0.86%
Deere & Company DE 163.94 0.52 0.32%
Dow Jones ^DJI 26,806.14 -115.98 -0.43%
General Mills GIS 54.04 -0.14 -0.26%
GoDaddy GDDY 70.32 -1.39 -1.94%
Great Western Bank GWB 35.42 -0.74 -2.05%
Heartland Express HTLD 18.19 -0.12 -0.66%
KemPharm KMPH 1.57 -0.03 -1.87%
Marsh & McLennan MMC 102.00 -0.75 -0.73%
MidWestOne  MOFG 27.75 -0.25 -0.89%
Pearson PSO 10.44 -0.10 -0.95%
Pepsico PEP 132.56 -0.46 -0.35%
Principal Financial  PFG 58.25 -0.56 -0.95%
QCR Holdings QCRH 34.26 -0.34 -0.98%
S&P 500 ^GSPC 2,975.95 -14.46 -0.48%
Procter & Gamble  PG 114.03 0.88 0.78%
United Fire Group UFCS 49.72 -0.18 -0.36%
U.S. Bank USB 53.09 -0.59 -1.10%
United Technologies UTX 130.85 -1.69 -1.28%
Wells Fargo  WFC 47.53 -0.24 -0.50%
West Bank WTBA 21.38 -0.31 -1.43%
Whirlpool  WHR 144.56 -0.10 -0.07%
Short-Term Event Planner
     
July 9
TechBrew AM, by Technology Association of Iowa, 8-9 a.m., Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE. TAI President Brian Waller conducts casual interviews with CIOs who share their favorite music, discuss their career path and share what's most important for the Iowa technology community. Free. To register, visit  technologyiowa.org/events.

Marketing Forum, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE. Driven by group discussion, participants will receive advice and tips, learn from others and grow their professional network. This month's topic is market research, surveys and customer feedback. Free. For information, visit  cedarrapids.org.

July 10
Secrets to Sales Success, by Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, 8-9:15 a.m., Economic Alliance, 501 First St. SE. Learn how to structure your day, reduce the sales cycle and win more deals. Led by Lee Roberts, director of sales at BerganKDV. Free. For information, visit  shorturl.at/abuKT.

1 Million Cups, by 1MC Cedar Rapids, 8:15-9:15 a.m., Geonetric, 415 12th Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit  facebook.com/1MCICR.

1 Million Cups, by 1MC Iowa City, 9-10 a.m., MERGE, 136 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Join for community connections, free coffee, and presentations by entrepreneurs, established companies, experts and more. Free. For more information, visit  facebook.com/1MillionCupsIC/.

Ribbon Cutting: TownePlace Suites by Marriott, by Marion Chamber of Commerce, 4:45 p.m., TownePlace Suites, 2823 Seventh Ave., Marion. Celebrate the grand opening of Marion's newest hotel with a ribbon cutting, following by an open house from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. For more information, visit  bit.ly/2IsHu0S.
Headlines from CBS2/FOX 28
T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28  

According to Marshalltown Police Department, a girl with autism who went missing on Friday has been found dead. Authorities say Jazmin Reyes Raya, 18, got upset about something and left her family's home around 7:30 p.m. Friday. Investigators say she was found just before 10 a.m. today in a remote area of the Iowa River about 500 yards northwest of the North Center Street bridge area. They say there's no indication any criminal activity was involved in her death. However, it is still an active investigation.

Hazy conditions today across the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest was caused by wildfire smoke being brought into the area by an area of high pressure over the region. According to Natural Resources Canada , more than 100 fires are burning across Canada including several large fires in Manitoba and Ontario. Upper-level winds and a cold front from the northwest over the weekend brought smoke across the border into the United States, and high pressure to the east is placing is across the Midwest. While much of the smoke is in the upper levels of the atmosphere, some sinking motion in the wake of the aforementioned high pressure has brought smoke down to the surface which has created reduced visibility in some spots. The smoke will linger through the evening and overnight hours but is expected to start clearing the area by Tuesday afternoon, but more smoke may be brought into the area Wednesday and Thursday by another Canadian cold front.
 
T hese news items are provided by CBS2/FOX 28 
 
CBS2 Chief Meteorologist Terry Swails'  Weather First Forecast
 
High pressure remains in control today and will lead to another pleasant afternoon. It will be mostly sunny with temperatures in the low to mid-80s. Humidity will be relatively low, too, but it  will go up Tuesday ahead of a cold front. A warm front will lift north Tuesday and bring in the moisture and the chance for scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. It will be dry Wednesday with temperatures in the low to mid 80s. Drier air will filter in through the day as the cold front pushes south. The humidity will be low once again for Thursday and lead to a nice day with temperatures in the low 80s.