Medicaid Showdown Looms Large
On Thursday, April 4, the House Appropriations committee voted to pass a "shell" bill that has the intent of providing health care to Iowans. But they did not pass Medicaid expansion, but will still "consider" it in the coming weeks.
Sound a bit confusing? It is. All you need to know is that a showdown looms in the House over Medicaid expansion and Branstad's "Healthy Iowa Plan". And Branstad's plan will make a "healthy Iowa" for only some.If enacted, Medicaid expansion would offer health coverage to 150,000 additional Iowans. The expansion, a part of Barrack Obama's Affordable Care Act, would cost nothing to the state of Iowa for three years- it would be fully funded by the federal government. After three years, federal funding would remain at at least 90%.Branstad's alternative to Medicaid expansion is insufficient- it provides limited coverage, with limited services, to just under 90,000 Iowans. And it relies on pulling funds from county governments, hospitals and the general fund to the tune of $163 million a year. That amount of money would fund an expansion of Medicaid for seven years.We're looking at a Medicaid showdown, and it's up to the House to do the right thing. In the coming weeks, there will be subcommittee meetings on both bills and a public hearing for citizens to make comment on both proposals. It's up to us to make our voices heard, and build a critical mass of support for expansion that Branstad and House Republicans cannot ignore.
Take Action!
- Contact your Representative today to tell them to do the right thing and support Medicaid expansion today. Click here to send your message.
- Join a rally in your area to support Medicaid expansion on Sunday, April 7. Click here for more details.
- Have a story about how Medicaid expansion would affect you or someone you know? Let us know by calling 515-255-0800.
Join the fight
- Contact us for more information
- Join as an Iowa CCI Action Fund member today or chip in $20 to support our organizing on this issue.
- Sign up for our E-Mail Action list to get the latest updates
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter