Science / Technology Archives

New state report details health issues facing rural Missourians

November 26, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

The Department of Health and Senior Services says accessing basic health care is becoming increasingly challenging due to hospital closures and fewer available hospital beds in rural Missouri. Since the last published Health in Rural Missouri report in 2017, four rural, general acute care hospitals have closed – bringing the number of rural counties without a hospital to 55.

New state report details health issues facing rural Missourians

The latest report says rural Missourians die at significantly higher rates than urban residents. For every 100,000 people living in rural areas during 2007-2017, there were nearly 869 deaths, compared to 785 in urban areas.

According to the report, heart disease tops the list for the leading cause of death for rural and urban Missourians, followed by cancer and chronic lower respiratory diseases. A citizen in a rural Missouri county during the same ten-year period is 20% more likely to die of heart disease than one living in an urban county.

Between 2007 and 2017, the report says pregnancy related deaths were 47% higher for rural communities than for urban ones. In Missouri, more than 1,500 cases of maternal morbidity or mortality were reported in 2016-2017. The ten counties with the highest rates of maternal morbidity statewide are all rural.

Death rates from opioid overdose are increasing in rural areas, although less quickly than in urban areas. Similarly to urban areas, the state data shows opioid overdose death rates are highest in the eastern part of the state.

According to the report, the health status of rural Missouri boils down to unhealthy behaviors, inadequate access to health care and an older, poorer population.

Poverty is much more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas, with a 29% lower per capita income. Rural Missouri also has much higher percentages of children and elderly living in poverty.

To view the full report, click here.

Federal funding helps to expand virtual health care in rural Missouri

November 20, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is giving more than $500,000 to expand virtual health care services in parts of rural Missouri. The USDA is providing the funding through the Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) grant program.

Photo courtesy of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Through the grant, Mercy Virtual will install video equipment to provide remote health services in parts of eastern, southern and southwest Missouri. The effort is expected to provide health care to about 210,000 area residents.

The grant will also allow Salem Memorial District Hospital in southern Missouri to put technology connecting rural Missouri schools in Dent, Reynolds, Iron, and Shannon Counties to Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla and SSM Health in St. Louis. The project is said to increase health care access to 2,300 rural Missouri students.

In 2017, President Donald Trump created the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.

$28 million University of Missouri Plant Growth Research Center opens

November 18, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

The University of Missouri has opened a new $28 million state-of-the-art center housing research greenhouses and cutting-edge, controlled-environment plant growth chambers in Columbia. From droughts to floods to monsoons, the more than 9,000 square feet for controlled environment growth chambers enable researchers to simulate climate conditions from all over the world to study their impacts on crops. Scott Brown, with the University of Missouri, says the new site is a much-needed improvement.

Photos courtesy of the University of Missouri

“So a chance to have some new greenhouse space to make sure our plant science researchers can do the cutting-edge research that they need,” says Brown.

The site contains some of the tallest growth chambers in the world that can accommodate the full 12-foot growth height of corn. Brown thinks the research will involve all sorts of crops.

“I think it’s going to be across the board and in fact, we’re looking at a number of researchers bidding on the opportunity to have greenhouse space in this new facility,” says Brown. “So, we’ll see how it unfolds moving forward.”

The East Campus building has 24 greenhouse units.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary heading to Kansas City on Friday; Graves praises relocation plan (AUDIO)

November 11, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

A congressman who represents 36 northern Missouri counties is praising USDA’s selection of Kansas City as the site for two major USDA facilities.

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, farms in northwest Missouri’s Atchison County in October 2019 (photo courtesy of Congressman Graves’ office)

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, a sixth-generation family farmer, says 90 percent of USDA employees are already outside of Washington. Graves’ sprawling district includes the northern Kansas City suburbs.

“The closer we can get USDA’s core or headquarter staff to agriculture, the better,” Graves says.

USDA will relocate its Economic Research Service (ERS) and its National Institute of Food and Agriculture Policy (NIFA) agencies to Pennsylvania Avenue in Kansas City.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will travel to the location on Friday morning to hold an event with Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Senator Roy Blunt, state Department of Agriculture (MDA) Director Chris Chinn, state Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon and others.

Congressman Graves praises the relocation plan, saying it will decentralize USDA.

“When you put too many bureaucrats for an agency inside the Beltway, inside Washington D.C. where they’re not out there interacting with the very people that they are supposed to be serving, then you get into some serious problems,” says Graves.

He says USDA’s decision puts the agencies closer to constituencies.

Graves also predicts the decision will have a “ripple effect” two to three counties deep. He says the average wages for the approximately 550 positions are between $80,000 and $100,000.

“Buying homes, renting apartments, buying gas, buying groceries, buying new televisions, whatever the case may be,” Graves says.

He also emphasizes that the issue has been bipartisan, noting that he’s been working closely with U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) has also praised the plan and the bipartisan regional efforts to land the jobs. Mayor Lucas notes Kansas City is an essential part of the animal health corridor.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, which was recorded on November 1, 2019:

USDA’s Kansas City decision praised by top Missouri Republicans and Democrats

October 31, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Members of Missouri’s congressional delegation in both parties are praising the decision by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to select Kansas City, Missouri as the site for two major USDA facilities.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City (September 2018 file photo courtesy of Congressman Cleaver’s office)

USDA announced its decision to relocate the facilities to the “greater Kansas City area” in June, but it wasn’t formally announced until Thursday that the office site would be on Pennsylvania Avenue in Kansas City. USDA is relocating its Economic Research Service (ERS) and its National Institute of Food and Agriculture Policy (NIFA) agencies.

USDA chose Kansas City over potential sites in North Carolina and Indiana.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, told Missourinet in June that the decision would bring about 550 jobs to the Kansas City region, with average wages between $80,000 and $100,000.

Pennsylvania Avenue is located in Congressman Cleaver’s district.

“I am pleased to welcome the U.S. Department of Agriculture offices of Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture to Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District. Together these institutions and their employees will bolster the agricultural research sector in the Greater Kansas City region to the benefit of the entire nation. A move like this is never easy on employees or their families; however, as the Congressional Representative from Kansas City, I can assure you that Kansas Citians stand ready to make your transition as seamless as possible. We are ecstatic to have you here, and we look forward to your commendable research continuing in the Show-Me State,” Cleaver said in a statement.

Governor Mike Parson and U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, both Republicans, also praise USDA’s decision, saying it puts the agencies closer to constituencies.

“I’ve been proud to advocate for the USDA move and finalizing the site selection marks a huge step forward,” Senator Blunt said in a statement. “Bringing these two important ag research agencies closer to the people they serve and the leading research institutions that support their mission is the right move.”

Blunt also praised the USDA decision, during an August interview with Missourinet at the State Fair in Sedalia.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas (D) is also happy, and praises the bipartisan regional efforts to land the jobs. Mayor Lucas notes Kansas City is an essential part of the animal health corridor.

University of Missouri grad gives $1.7 million to help with diversity, shelter medicine efforts

October 25, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

A University of Missouri graduate has given $1.4 million to the College of Engineering and $310,000 to the College of Veterinary Medicine. Ken Donohew and his wife, Ellen Kippel, have made the gifts to support diversity and shelter medicine programs.

Photos courtesy of University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine

Donohew is a 1967 industrial engineering graduate. Through their donations, Donohew and Kippel have established the Major General Jack N. Donohew Fund for Diversity and Inclusion in Engineering to honor Ken’s father. They also want to honor Donohew’s uncle, Paul Zollman, who was in the first class from the College of Veterinary medicine to graduate with a doctoral degree in 1950.

Carolyn Henry, dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine, says the donation will be used to finish its renovation next door to the Columbia animal shelter and give students more hands-on experience.

“They’re working with the animals, primarily from Central Missouri Humane Society but they also do work with other shelters, assessing general health care of the animals, learning about disease spread, learning about what’s unique about shelter medicine situations and then really getting the hands-on experience, especially with their spay/neuter program.”

Through the Shelter Medicine Program, which launched in 2011, students perform more than 100 surgeries each month.

Photos courtesy of University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine

“Every veterinary student completes a rotation in shelter medicine before graduation. This accounts four our graduates having performed 15 to 20 more surgeries than they did before the program started,” she says.

Henry says the donation is a big win for the students, the animals and their owners.

“We immediately make the animals more adoptable if we can get good medical care to them, but somebody’s got to pay for that, right? Unless that burdens going to be placed on the new owner of the animal or on students through tuition.”

The college has more than 1,200 vet school applicants each year and 120 are accepted. Henry says many more opportunities exist today for veterinarians.

“We’re certainly seeing more and more corporate practices popping up, some in conjunction with pet stores, some in conjunction with super stores,” says Henry. “I think the whole face of veterinary medicine is going to change dramatically over the next ten, twenty years.”

Missouri vet students spend two years in clinical rotations, which Henry says is more than a majority of schools.

Former U.S. Secretary of State to visit to Missouri on Tuesday

September 30, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

Photo courtesy of Maryville University

Former Secretary of State John Kerry is paying a visit to Missouri tomorrow. He’s scheduled to speak at Powell Hall in St. Louis as part of the Maryville University St. Louis Speakers Series. He plans to talk about bringing people together to solve big problems and how climate change affects jobs and competition.

In 2004, Kerry lost Missouri as the Democratic nominee for president. Kerry served as United States Secretary of State during President Barack Obama’s second term.

The St. Louis event gets underway Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Missouri teachers using new standards in two subjects

September 24, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

The state’s K through 12 public school districts are referencing a different set of fine arts and computer science standards. The guidelines were adopted this year by the Missouri Board of Education.

Missouri teachers using new standards in two subjects

Coursework in theatre, music and dance are a priority. The fine arts measures also expand the definition of arts to include animation, film, and gaming development and interactive and computer-based art-making.

Many of the computer science guidelines do not a require a computer to learn, particularly at the lower elementary levels, and are incorporated across other subjects. They could be studied through what is referred to as “unplugged activities”, which involve critical thinking and understanding algorithms.

The cost to districts will depend on the way they choose to apply the standards.

Southwest Missouri voters oppose tax increase to help fund hospital

August 8, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

Voters in southwestern Missouri’s Cedar County have decided not to raise property taxes to help fund an area hospital.

Southwest Missouri voters oppose tax increase to help fund hospital

Missourinet affiliate KSGF in Springfield reports Cedar County Memorial Hospital in El Dorado Springs has been operating on the same $1.15 tax levy since it opened in 1960. Tuesday’s special election ballot proposal would have raised the tax levy for the average house by around 22 cents a day, or around $80 a year.

The hospital says it’s doing its best to keep things running. It ran a deficit of $1.5 million last year.

Springfield television station KYTV reports the vice president of the Cedar County Memorial Hospital board in El Dorado Springs, Carla Griffin, says the hospital “is not in IMMINENT danger of closing,” but employee cutbacks will need to be made.

The 25-bed hospital has more than 120 employees and is the second largest employer in the county. It includes a surgery center, sleep lab and wound care clinic.

Hundreds of rural health care centers have closed nationwide over the last 5 years, including seven in Missouri.

Missourians warned of genetic testing scheme

August 1, 2019 By Alisa Nelson

The State Department of Social Services warns Missourians to be alert to fraud involving marketers offering free genetic testing to Medicare and Medicaid recipients. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General says scammers are offering cheek swabs for genetic testing to get an individual’s Medicare or Medicaid information for identify theft or fraudulent billing purposes. Fraudsters are targeting victims through telemarketing, door-to-door visits and booths at public events or health fairs.

Missourians warned of genetic testing scheme

The Department of Social Services has received reports of fraudulent genetic testing marketers contacting Missouri residents throughout the state. The scam might be a game, like bingo, with prizes or food to get residents at senior housing facilities to participate. Scammers may be in scrubs or white coats to look like health care professionals or researchers and typically ask if the individual has Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

The individual may be asked to do a short family health history questionnaire and told a genetic test can determine if they have or are susceptible to a disease or if prescribed or over-the-counter medications will have a negative impact. If the individual agrees to be tested, the scammer asks for Medicare or Medicaid numbers and uses a cheek swab to take a sample.

If you or someone you know has been solicited for cheek swab for genetic testing or has already provided one, please report it to the Missouri Medicaid Audit & Compliance (MMAC) by email at MMAC.ReportFraud@dss.mo.gov or by phone at (573) 751-3285.

Follow these tips to stay safe:
• Refuse delivery or return a genetic testing kit mailed to you unless your physician ordered it. Record the sender’s name and the date returned.
• Be suspicious of free genetic testing offers and requests for your Medicare or Medicaid number. Your personal information could be used in other fraud schemes.
• Your physician should approve any requests for genetic testing.
• Always keep your Medicare and Medicaid card numbers safe and share only with your physician.
• If you believe that you’ve been a victim of a scam, please call the Missouri Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 or submit a complaint online at http://ago.mo.gov. Additionally, claims of Medicaid fraud can be submitted to the Attorney General’s Office by calling (800) 286-3932.
• If you suspect Medicare fraud, contact the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General Hotline by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or online.