Latest news with #IowaHealthandWellness
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa House passes Medicaid work requirements, bill sent to governor's desk
DES MOINES, Iowa – Members of the House Republican caucus moved quickly to pass work requirements to Iowans receiving healthcare benefits through the Iowa Health and Wellness plan. Several amendments were filed for the House version, the only one approved merged the bill to the version the Iowa Senate passed on Tuesday. The bill requires 80 hours of work, minimum, every month to continue to receive healthcare benefits. Iowa House Republicans passed the legislation by a vote of 61 to 35. 'Iowans support work requirements for able-bodied adults, which should be a decision made by the state and its elected officials. This bill ensures that the state of Iowa … can continue work requirements for Medicaid expansion, no matter what political party controls the federal administration,' said State Representative Carter Nordman (R), District 47 from Adel. Grieving families thanked for advocacy on 'hands-free' driving law; bill sent to governor's desk House Democrats warned about the trigger language in the bill, stating that if work requirements are ever attempted to be removed, the Iowa Health and Wellness plan would be shut down by the state department of health and human services. 'Look at the private equity groups buying up things like dialysis centers and ramping up prices with collusion,' said State Representative Adam Zabner (D), District 90 from Iowa City. The independent Legislative Service Agency estimated in the fiscal note that 32,000 people would lose healthcare coverage in the state if the bill is signed into law. There are exemptions for individuals listed in the bill that will waive the work requirements for those on the benefits. The bill is now eligible to be signed into law by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, with the bill taking effect on enactment. Iowa News: Mark Gronowski making strong opening impression with Hawkeyes New season begins for Iowa farmers Iowa House passes Medicaid work requirements, bill sent to governor's desk Grieving families thanked for advocacy on 'hands-free' driving law; bill sent to governor's desk Pharmacist-Lawmaker pushes for PBM reform bill amid rising pharmacy closures Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Work requirements for Medicaid, public assistance programs passes through Iowa Senate
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Senate Republican majority pushed through a bill that would add minimum work requirements for Iowans who are receiving healthcare benefits and help from public assistance programs. The bill advanced by a vote of 33-15, stating that people must work for 80 hours each month to continue receiving health coverage. The Iowa Health and Wellness plan is the expanded Medicaid coverage for Iowans with incomes near the poverty level, giving them low or no cost benefits. The Legislative Services Agency projects that around 32,000 Iowans will lose coverage in the wellness plan due to the lack of ability to work. Republican Senators argued that the bill would help turn people's lives in the right direction instead of relying on government benefits. 'This bill ensures that individuals receiving Medicaid expansion benefits are given the opportunity to experience this dignity. By requiring work we are providing an important stepping stone to help Iowans develop life skills, build responsibility and regain a sense of purpose,' said State Senator Mike Klimesh, (R) District 32 from Spillville. Iowa bill prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion advanced by Senate Republican majority Senate Democrats argued that this will gut those who rely on these benefits and will slow down early screening and prevention opportunities for low income Iowans on the program. One argued that this bill is one step to repeal Medicaid by the majority party. 'This is a Medicaid repeal bill in sheep's clothing,' said State Senator Janet Peterson (D), District 18 from Des Moines. 'This bill requires the department to discontinue the Iowa Health and Wellness plan. Kicking all 181,000 Iowans off of their healthcare insurance.' The bill requires the state department of health and human services to request federal approval necessary to include work requirements as a condition of a member maintaining eligibility. It also states that if federal law or regulations affecting work requirements for the wellness plan are modified to exclude work requirements for the basis of maintaining eligibility, the department shall discontinue the Iowa Health and Wellness plan. There is a list of people who are exempt from having these work requirements imposed on them, as stated in the bill. The policy now heads over to the Iowa House where a bill already exists with similar parameters. Iowa News: New Iowa Head Coach McCollum already has ties with new fans Work requirements for Medicaid, public assistance programs passes through Iowa Senate Webster City lineman injured by live wire during blizzard recovery; fundraisers created Iowa bill prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion advanced by Senate Republican majority Iowa law banning school library books that depict sex acts on hold again after a new federal ruling Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
