New Laws Expand Cancer Coverage

(Des Moines) Governor Kim Reynolds signed two law bills requiring insurance companies to cover diagnostic exams for cancer detection and biomarker testing. The legislation aims to address Iowa’s high cancer rate, making it the second-highest in the nation. These measures received strong bipartisan support and will significantly impact cancer survivors like Maria Steele, who emphasized the importance of biomarker testing in tailoring effective treatments. The laws, effective immediately, mark a significant step in enhancing Iowans’ access to vital cancer diagnostic tools.

In a display of opposition, people gathered near the Capitol Complex in Des Moines on Wednesday to protest Iowa’s new immigration law. The legislation, set to take effect on July 1, criminalizes the presence of individuals in Iowa who have been previously denied admission to or removed from the United States. Organized by groups such as the Iowa Movement for Migrant Justice and Latinx Immigrants of Iowa, the demonstrations reflect growing concerns and anxieties within immigrant communities. Governor Kim Reynolds defended the law, emphasizing its humanitarian aspects and role in addressing national security issues. Similar protests were held in other cities across the state.