Special session needed to protect middle-class Iowans
This year, Senate Democrats fought long and hard for education, health care, jobs and public safety initiatives that will strengthen Iowa’s middle class. We hoped to accomplish much more, but after...
View ArticleVeto of MHI funding hurts vulnerable Iowans
As part of ongoing efforts to improve mental health services, we voted this year to make it easier for Iowans to receive mental health and substance abuse treatment closer to home. This included a...
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Ensuring top-notch health care for vulnerable Iowans
This next week marks the 50th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid, which were established on July 30, 1965. Today, Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to just over a half million Iowans...
View ArticleDeadline approaching to reverse governor’s vetoes
We’ve joined the call for a special legislative session to reverse Governor Branstad’s vetoes of bipartisan funding for schools, colleges and universities, and mental health treatment. Governor...
View ArticleMental health treatment must be available to Iowans
Public safety and medical professionals say Iowa has a mental health crisis. Legislators have been tackling that problem by improving the way mental health services are provided in our state. This...
View ArticleHalfway there on relief for suffering Iowans
Iowans living with debilitating conditions are now halfway to having access to new medical options. In 2014, the Iowa Legislature overwhelmingly approved a limited law making it legal to possess...
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Oversight Chair tours Cherokee Mental Health Institute Monday
Cherokee plays critical role in battling ‘mental health crisis in our state’ August 12, 2015 CHEROKEE — In an effort to highlight the importance of mental health services for Iowans, the chair of the...
View ArticleKey Senators ask feds to stop or slow down Branstad’s rush to privatize...
September 17, 2015 DES MOINES — The state Senators responsible for health care policy and funding have asked Obama Administration officials to stop or significantly slow down Governor Branstad’s...
View ArticleInformation on Medicaid Privatization
Many Iowans are expressing concern about Governor Branstad’s unilateral decision to privatize Iowa’s Medicaid program. If fully implemented, the Governor’s decision would have negative impacts on...
View ArticleShare your concerns about Iowa’s Medicaid privatization
If you are concerned about Governor Branstad’s reckless privatization of Iowa Medicaid, make your voice heard. There is more info in this post: Center for information on Medicaid Privatization. Senate...
View ArticleSenator urges Branstad-Reynolds Administration to keep hawk-i out of the...
Iowa Senate News Release State Senator Janet Petersen Contact: (515) 991-6311 For Immediate Release: October 15, 2015 Senator urges Branstad-Reynolds Administration to keep hawk-i out of the...
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Senate Oversight Chair Hogg asks Governor to detail facts behind claimed...
Senator Rob HoggState Senator Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, chair of the Senate Oversight Committee, has requested that Governor Branstad provide for any facts which support the Governor’s claims that...
View ArticleFeds invite Iowans to join conference calls on fate of Iowa Medicaid...
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the federal Medicaid partner with the state of Iowa. Iowa’s Democratic State Senators have asked CMS to stop, change or delay the Branstad...
View ArticleRagan: Medicaid mistakes putting additional burdens on at risk Iowans;...
Iowa Senate News Release State Senator Amanda Ragan: (641) 424 – 0874 For Immediate Release: November 3, 2015 Ragan: Medicaid mistakes putting additional burdens on at risk Iowans; Legislators must...
View ArticleMajor concerns and unanswered questions force attempt to delay Medicaid...
Iowa Senate News Release State Senator Amanda Ragan: (641) 424 – 0874 For Immediate Release: November 3, 2015 Major concerns and unanswered questions force attempt to delay Medicaid privatization...
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CH: Many more questions than answers
Sen. Rita Hart (left), Kim Murphy with the Iowa Department of Human Services and Rep. Linda Miller (far right) watch Wednesday as Sen. Liz Mathis points out information on a Powerpoint presentation...
View ArticleSenators on way to DC for urgent action on Medicaid
November 17, 2015 (DES MOINES) Three key state legislators will meet this Wednesday in Washington, DC, with the federal officials who have not yet approved Governor Branstad’s disorganized push to...
View ArticleGovernor’s own numbers show that Iowans’ access to health at risk
A statement by State Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City, member of the Health Policy Oversight Committee, in response to today’s Medicaid privatization report by Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor...
View ArticleDMR: Branstad touts Medicaid contracts, but few hospitals signed
Tony Leys, Des Moines Register Nov. 19, 2015 Gov. Terry Branstad, who is pushing to shift management of the state’s Medicaid program to private companies on Jan. 1, said Thursday that the firms have...
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Five Questions Governor Branstad Needs to Answer Before Medicaid Privatization
November 22, 2015 Statement by Senator Joe Bolkcom, member of the Legislature’s Health Policy Oversight Committee NUMBER ONE: Governor Branstad, you have consistently claimed that using private...
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