An Iowa House committee has voted to prohibit companies that manage prescription drug benefit plans from forcing patients to get their medications through the mail. Representative John Forbes of Urbandale, a pharmacist, said he often has to fix the problems when mail order companies fail. "We … [Read more...]
Senate panel would ban food stamps to Iowans not paying child support
Seven Republicans in the Iowa Senate have voted to deny food stamp benefits to parents who aren't making an attempt to pay child support. The seven Republicans on the Senate Labor Committee also have endorsed quarterly income checks to make sure people on Medicaid and food stamps are eligible for … [Read more...]
Senators seek third-party to handle state Medicaid appeals
Two key Democrats in the Iowa Senate are proposing adjustments to how private companies manage Iowa's Medicaid program. Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City says firing the private companies is not an option since Republicans remain in control of the legislature and the governor's office. "Governor … [Read more...]
Quarterly evaluations proposed for welfare benefits in Iowa
A senate committee will soon consider a plan to have Iowans on public assistance programs like Medicaid and food stamps to submit documents every three months to prove they're still eligible. Senator Jason Schultz, a Republican from Schleswig, is the bill's sponsor. "I am going to do whatever I … [Read more...]
Senior Medicare Patrol helps Iowans combat fraud in the program
The Iowa Insurance Division says it now overseeing a program that will help the roughly 500,000 Iowa Medicare users. The director of Iowa's Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), Kris Gross, explains the program. "Senior Medicare Patrol or SMP is a program to help Medicare … [Read more...]
Former Urbandale insurance agent convicted of fraud
A former central Iowa Insurance agent has been convicted of fraud. The Iowa Insurance Division says 48-year-old Joy Marie Heldt of Madrid was convicted for fraudulent submissions after an investigation found she used the identifying information of a client to complete an individual term life … [Read more...]
Sand says new Medicaid review to go beyond ‘price tag’ data
State Auditor Rob Sand is planning what he describes as a more thorough review of how private companies are running the state's Medicaid program, but he is not predicting when that review may be completed. Republican State Auditor Mary Mosiman released her staff's review of Medicaid in late … [Read more...]
GOP lawmakers may pass work requirement for Iowa Medicaid
Republicans in the state legislature may pursue a policy that will require most "able-bodied" Iowa adults enrolled in Medicaid to work. Republican House Speaker Linda Upmeyer of Clear Lake said it could help ease the worker shortage in Iowa. "Certainly we're not suggesting that people who are … [Read more...]
Center for Rural Affairs tries to calm concerns about Affordable Care Act
Iowans who have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act are being reassured their policies are still valid, despite a federal judge's ruling in Texas that parts of the ACA are unconstitutional. Jordan Rasmussen, policy manager at the Center for Rural Affairs, says the mid-December ruling … [Read more...]
Board releases to-do list for children’s mental health services in Iowa
A state board has completed its plan for greatly expanding options for Iowa children who need mental health care services. Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven says he's optimistic lawmakers and the governor will implement the board's proposals. "We looked at what is doable quickly … [Read more...]