DES MOINES – The Iowa Senate approved a bill this morning that would terminate the contracts with out-of-state managed care corporations connected to Governor Terry Branstad’s privatization of Medicare.
Thursday morning, the Iowa Senate debated SSB3081, which Democrats say “would terminate the MCO contracts and stop the privatization of Iowa’s Medicaid system.”
Less than two hours later, 29 Senators voted to approve the bill, while 19 voted against it.
Iowa’s Medicaid program serves bout 560,000 lower-income citizens and costs billions to administer. Governor Branstad says that soaring costs led him to seek privatization of the program. Mason City’s Sharon Steckman called the governor’s plan a “mess” Thursday, as her fellow legislator Senator Amanda Ragan voted in favor of the bill.
Iowa’s Republican House will not likely look at the bill.
Iowa Democratic Party chair Dr. Andy McGuire issued the following statement on the Senate vote today to end the Branstad-Reynolds administration’s Medicaid privatization plan:
“I commend Majority Leader Gronstal, Senate President Jochum and every member of Senate Democratic Caucus for listening to their constituents, speaking out and standing up for the 560,000 Iowans who depend on Medicaid for vital care and services. Iowa Democrats have led the charge against this misguided plan, and will continue to do everything possible to ensure Iowans have access to the quality health care they deserve.
“Nearly two months ago, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services put the brakes on the administration’s Medicaid privatization plan for sixty days because the state of Iowa was not prepared to make the change. In the weeks that have followed, the administration has not been able to prove that the state is now ready and able to make such a drastic change without upending Iowans’ care or services. Unanswered questions and serious concerns remain.
“The Branstad-Reynolds administration’s Medicaid privatization plan is too reckless and risky to move forward with.
“While an overwhelming majority of the Senate Republican caucus refused to acknowledge this reality and continues to stand behind the administration’s Medicaid privatization plan, it is notable that today that three Republican Senators voted to halt the Medicaid change. It is time for every Republican legislator, in both the House and the Senate, to join with Democrats and fight to protect Iowans’ health care.”
They can approve all they want in their effort to protect their public workers that are going to lose their jobs. It will do them no good as it will never pass the house and if it did it would be vetoed. A total waste of time and nothing but showboating while they pander for the union vote with our money.
Terry you know the people that voted for this bill have stock in those present insurance companies. I think their doing to you what they are trying to do to Trump – Not going so good for the crooks. What in the hell is going on when you are trying to save maybe a billion dollars in taxpayer money. Something to do with obummers plan to overtake our country with illegals and muslims?