Medicaid listening post planned in Charles City will feature rep’s from all three managed care organizations

CHARLES CITY – State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm is organizing a listening post and help session for area residents who have questions about Iowa Medicaid privatization.

The event will be held at 1 P.M. on Thursday, July 21, at North Iowa Area Community College, 200 Harwood Drive in Charles City. Representative Todd Prichard and Senator Amanda Ragan will also participate.

Attendees will have the opportunity to share their concerns and suggestions with the legislators at the front of the room. Representatives of Medicaid managed care organizations have been invited to meet personally with local residents and health care providers experiencing problems in the back of the room. All three Medicaid managed care organizations, Amerigroup, United Healthcare and Amerihealth Caritas, have confirmed they will participate.

“The problems with Medicaid privatization matter to every Iowan because any of us could someday need the help of the Medicaid safety net,” said Wilhelm.

Recently, Iowa care providers reported they are struggling to receive timely, complete payments from the out-of-state corporations picked to administer the health care of the more than one half million Iowans on Medicaid.

The Iowa Senate’s Human Resources Committee will hold a special meeting on this issue and the problems Iowa families have experienced on July 26th at the Iowa Statehouse. Wilhelm and Ragan are both members of the committee.

“If this isn’t fixed, Medicaid privatization could make Iowa health care less accessible and more expensive while costing Iowans jobs,” said Wilhelm. “We’ve got to do better.”

Iowa Medicaid is a joint state and federal program. It is the ultimate health care safety net for Iowa families dealing with severe accidents, long-term illnesses and disabilities. Roughly 70 percent of Medicaid funds are used to care for Iowans living with disabilities and the very poor elderly.