(Radio Iowa) - The Board of Regents approved today U-I Healthcare's plans to buy Mission Cancer Plus Blood's more than 20 community clinics across Iowa.
During a special meeting, U-I Vice President Denise Jamieson says cancer rates in Iowa are the second highest in the nation, and access to cancer care across the state is insufficient to meet the needs of Iowans. She says this is particularly true in rural Iowa.
U-I Healthcare will pay 280 million dollars to purchase Mission's assets. Jamieson says the merger will improve access to clinical care for patients in Iowa, and expand access to community based clinical research trials. They also believe that it will increase the likelihood that cancer physicians stay in Iowa to practice.