Senate President Pam Jochum
December 10, 2013
Statement by Senate President Pam Jochum,
the Senate floor manager of the 2013 Iowa health care agreement
“It’s great news for Iowa’s middle class families that the federal government has agreed to support the Iowa affordable health care compromise. I encourage Governor Branstad to accept this plan so we can continue to expand access to affordable health care to more than 150,000 working Iowans.
“The new Iowa Health and Wellness Plan has already enrolled some 60 to 70 thousand Iowans. Thanks to this bipartisan effort, 150,000 working Iowans will soon be going to their own doctors rather than hospital emergency rooms when they need medical care.
“The result will be healthier Iowans, fewer home foreclosures and family bankruptcies due to medical bills, and lower health care costs for all Iowans.
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