Lawmakers question private groups on Medicaid

Lawmakers question private groups on Medicaid

Symbolic request for delay denied on party votes

Associated Press

DES MOINES — Some Iowa lawmakers reiterated their skepticism Monday that private health care companies are ready to take over the state's $4.2 billion Medicaid program, on the eve of federal officials visiting Iowa to review plans and make a decision on whether to approve it.

Democrats and Republicans on the Health Policy Oversight Committee sought clarity from representatives for the four companies about the switch to managed care on Jan. 1. Some Democrats criticized the companies for not releasing more specific information about how many health care providers in the state have signed new contracts to provide Medicaid under their watch.

'When do we get information about what's going on?' said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, a Democrat from Iowa City — a comment that caused an overflow room of attendees to burst into applause. Bolkcom later made a request for the legislative panel to formally ask federal officials to delay the switch. The largely symbolic motion failed on a party-line vote.

Roughly 560,000 people in Iowa are enrolled in Medicaid, which provides care to poor children, families and disabled people, as well as some low-income adults. It is funded with state and federal dollars.

Representatives for the companies — Amerigroup Iowa, AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley and WellCare of Iowa — said they were updating their figures daily on signed contracts, so it was difficult to provide accurate numbers. They expressed confidence they were ready to serve their potential members.

Mikki Stier, the Medicaid director for the Iowa Department of Human Services, also said she was confident in the process. Her comments came shortly after Gov. Terry Branstad's office announced an extension for Medicaid providers to receive full reimbursement for their services, whether for in-network or out-of-network insurance plans. That will run through April 1.

During the hourslong meeting, lawmakers presented hypothetical scenarios of coverage issues. They also commented on reports of missing signup information in the mail and long wait times for contacting designated call centers. A DHS spokeswoman said those issues were being resolved.

The committee later debated if it should meet again, though some Republicans questioned if the panel had completed its oversight work. Rep. David Heaton, a Republican from Mount Pleasant, said it's now up to federal officials.

'They will make the decision, not us,' he said.

The move to Medicaid privatization hinges on approval from federal officials, some of whom will visit Iowa and meet with the private companies beginning Tuesday. They are expected to make a decision soon.

The committee's meeting drew dozens of people to the Capitol building, and an overflow gathered in the rotunda to watch a livestream video. Jeff Edberg of Iowa City was one of them. He said he was compelled to travel to Des Moines on behalf of his 13-year-old son, Collin, who he said has severe mental and physical disabilities and requires care from several Medicaid providers. He questioned the efficiency of the switch and an estimated $51 million in savings for the state.

'Somebody has to pay the bills,' he said, pointing to a photo of his son. 'That's who's going to pay them, and people like him.'

By Barbara Rodriguez