DES MOINES – Tuesday, Gov. Terry E. Branstad released the most recent data, claiming Iowa’s Medicaid patients have more choice, access, and accountability under Medicaid Modernization than ever before. The Governor insists that patients have “more choice than ever before fitting their individual needs, more access to services including twice as many doctors and nurses, and real accountability that will improve the health of more than 500,000 Iowans.”
What Branstad calls “Medicaid Modernization” has brought “real accountability to the Medicaid program tracking nearly 1,000 patient health outcomes–something Old Medicaid never did. Additionally, under Old Medicaid, providers were paid on average in 7-10 days. Old Medicaid used a paper system and an antiquated system to process claims. Under Medicaid Modernization, plans are verifying payment on the front end ensuring accuracy and preventing fraud, waste, and abuse. Payments are now done through a modern computer system and providers are being paid on average in less than 9 days.”
For a comparison of “Old Medicaid” to “Medicaid Modernization”, via Branstad’s office:
