Northwest Iowa — Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s confident there will be a “seamless” switch after another change in the state-run Medicaid program that covers healthcare costs for low-income families here in northwest Iowa, and across the state.
One of the three private companies that began managing care for Medicaid patients last year is pulling out of the program on November 30th. State officials originally said 215-thousand Iowans in the Medicaid program would be automatically enrolled with UnitedHealth, but could choose to switch to Amerigroup. Amerigroup is the other remaining carrier. Monday, though, about 10-thousand Iowans found out they cannot make that choice. Governor Reynolds says state officials will step in to manage their care instead.
Iowa’s switch the privately-managed care was approved by the federal government as a way to manage costs and provide choice to Medicaid patients. Iowa Democrats have opposed what they call “privatizing” the Medicaid program and this week the Iowa Democratic Party chairman called the system “ReynoldsCare”. The governor says it’s a “partnership” to ensure the program is sustainable for taxpayers and serving poor, elderly and disabled Iowans who cannot afford health care insurance on their own.
Reynold says she has “full faith and confidence” in the people managing the Medicaid program for 600-thousand Iowans. Health care providers say they’re not getting paid and Democrats say it’s time to revert back to a standard fee system with state-paid employees managing Medicaid.
Iowa officials are seeking a deal with another private company to manage care for Medicaid patients, but that contract won’t be signed until the summer of 2019.
