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Our top story this week breaks down health care costs and why they're so high. Administration costs represent 40% of the average U.S. hospital’s total costs, and local health care providers explain why.
Also in this newsletter: Ames electric bills may rise, the city council named 15 members on the Resident Data Center Committee, new e-bike speed limits and the Octagon Art Festival is Sunday. Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Rob Sand spoke about data centers and the importance of bipartisanship earlier this week on the ISU campus.
Community Voices profiles Grace Amemiya, an educator about the internment of Japanese Americans.
Thank you for your continued support,
Amber Mohmand, News Editor
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Top Story
One of the biggest reasons for high health care costs is administrative costs, which represents 40% of the average U.S. hospital’s total costs. (Photo: Daniel Sone via Unsplash)
by Michael Kitchell
Most Americans wonder why health care costs are so high. One of the biggest reasons is what is known as administrative costs, which the American Hospital Association reports represent 40% of the average U.S. hospital’s total costs.
Local health care leaders, however, report administrative costs closer to 30%.
Story Medical Center CEO Nate Thompson reports 67 full-time equivalent employees are “purely administrative, about 31% of the total” and have no patient contact.
Likewise, Gary Botine, chief financial officer at Mary Greeley Medical Center, said over one-third of their overhead costs are for “non-clinical (non-patient care) administrative personnel.”
Administrative costs are expenses to deliver patient care that do not involve direct patient contact, such as doctors, nurses, laboratories and diagnostic imaging services.
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News
City Council
by Bill Monroe
Ames electric customers could pay 2.5% more per year instead of the planned 1.5% because the new power plant costs $192 million.
Politics
by Artemis Tack
Iowa Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand spoke to hundreds of Ames residents about data centers, supporting small towns and the importance of bipartisanship at the Memorial Union on Monday.
More Headlines
🚲 Parks and recreation: The new bike speeds in Ames city parks may be working. After eight months of speed limits, the parks are a safer environment for the community, Parks and Recreation Director Keith Abraham said
⚡️ Data center: Fifteen residents will start researching how data centers can impact wildlife, people’s health and the temperature in Ames.
Civic Calendar
Tue: Board of Supervisors — 10 a.m., Administration Building (Nevada)
Wed: Zoning Board of Adjustment — 6 p.m., Council Chambers, Ames City Hall
Arts & Entertainment
Events
by Savannah Stickrod-Worthen
Downtown Ames will once again become a gathering place for artists and art lovers when the Octagon Art Festival returns to Main Street on Sunday.
Sports
Football
by Jared Larson
Defending Class 3A state champion Nevada dropped its non-district finale Friday night, falling 37-7 to No. 2 Clear Lake at Lions Field. The Cubs (1-3) mounted their strongest charge midway through the second quarter.
Community Voices
History
by Ames History Museum
Grace Amemiya was born to Japanese immigrants and spent time during World War II in an internment camp. When she moved to Ames years later, she became an educator about the internment of Japanese Americans.
More from Community Voices
🦋 Sleepy Hollow offers a quiet place to explore 27 acres of woods, prairie and local wildlife.
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In Other News
🎥 The inaugural Ames Documentary Film Festival will take place Sunday alongside the Octagon Art Festival and feature 11 shorts, all under 40 minutes.
📝 The Ames Human Relations Commission is seeking nominations for its annual Humanitarian Award.
📚 Six Ames elementary students have been selected for the 2026 cohort of National Math Stars, an enrichment program designed to support mathematically extraordinary students.
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