Latest news with #SarahTroneGarriott
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Work requirements for state Medicaid sent to Gov. Reynolds
DES MOINES, Iowa — While the Iowa House and Senate are working through the state budget for the next fiscal year; priorities from the majority party are getting passed in between. In a vote down party lines, the Iowa Senate approved Senate File 615, which requires 80 hours of work per month for those able to work on state Medicaid expansion. The Senate Republican caucus agreed with an amendment from the Iowa House that strikes a disabled worker program study out of the bill. House Republicans estimate that there are around 100,000 Iowans on state health care that can work but don't. Senate Democrats on Tuesday argued that this bill will end up costing the state millions. 'And in every state where this has been enacted, it has cost states tens of millions of dollars to implement for little to no savings. And the only benefit they get is more uninsured people who don't have a way to get their care covered,' said State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (D), District 14 from Waukee. Pleasant Hill construction will cause detours for DART State Fair Shuttle at SEP Senate Republicans pointed at other states when the bill first came through the chamber earlier in session, and one senator argued the opposite of Trone Garriott's point. 'So, at the end of demonstration year five, we will see a savings in the state of Iowa as a result of this program of $50 million. $50 million in savings that we can really reallocate or reappropriate to other areas, perhaps work with our programs. We may be able to develop with further communication between ourselves in the House,' said State Senator Mike Klimesh (R), District 32 from Spillville. Senator Klimesh said that the five-year demonstration of the bill was made available by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Just last month, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds requested a federal waiver to add 100 hours of work per month. Those who would be deemed as able to work would need to reach that threshold to receive benefits from the Iowa Health and Wellness plan, or state Medicaid expansion. Reynolds told WHO 13 News two weeks ago that that number will be decided once the waiver is approved, whether it is 80 or 100 hours. The bill has been sent over to her desk and is eligible to be signed into law. There are exemptions for individuals in between the ages of 19 and 65 that will not have to work, that list can be found in the bill. Iowa News: Work requirements for state Medicaid sent to Gov. Reynolds Pleasant Hill construction will cause detours for DART State Fair Shuttle at SEP Forecast: Heat, then storms north Thursday Bill restricting DEI in government entities sent to Gov. Reynolds to be signed into law Caitlin Clark Foundation dishes another assist Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
PBM reform bill amended, advanced through Iowa Senate
DES MOINES, Iowa — After multiple attempts over a span of several general assemblies, the bill to add regulations in the state's pharmaceutical industry passed through the Iowa Senate on Monday afternoon. The bill passed through the chamber by a vote of 36 to 14, with an amendment to the bill added that sends it back to the Iowa House. The bill adds regulations to pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, requiring them to reimburse pharmacies based off of the National Average Drug Average Cost. The bill also requires PBMs to reimburse pharmacies a dispensing fee and more. Advocates for the bill have explained that PBMs have been following a model where pharmacies are not fully reimbursed when filling a prescription for a patient. This leaves the pharmacy at a net loss on the cost to fill the prescription and what costs were reimbursed by PBMs. This in turn has seen an increased closure rate of both rural and urban pharmacies. Italian manufacturer to build new facility in Perry, creating jobs and boosting economy by millions 'If we do not pass this bill today, we are setting them up for having no access to a pharmacy. Thirty-two of them closed last year. I lost four alone in my district and once they close, they're not going to reopen. So, this bill is a great step in the right direction to provide transparency in what's an opaque system,' said State Senator Mike Klimesh (R), District 32 from Spillville. Those 32 pharmacies that have closed over the last year reflects concerns from owners about PBMs not reimbursing at fair rates. The majority of Senate Democrats voted against the bill, because insurance companies have indicated if there is any change to the PBM system, the costs will be passed on to the consumer. 'We have to take seriously that the PBMs have promised they're going to pass the costs along to the consumers, and we want to shield the people of Iowa from increased costs while protecting our small town and rural pharmacies,' said State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (D), District 14 from Waukee. According to the Iowa Pharmacy Association, out of all the states that have passed PBM reform there has not been an increase of insurance premium prices for patients. Iowa News: PBM reform bill amended, advanced through Iowa Senate Des Moines Afghan military refugees fear for lives after apparent deportation notices What's ahead for Monday's severe weather Scholastic Spotlight: Norwalk fashion & National Decathlon in Des Moines Hundreds of students honored as part of Governor's Scholar Program Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iowa Senate amends, approves Governor Reynolds' school cellphone restriction bill
DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa Senate lawmakers debated the governor's proposal that would restrict personal electronic device use during instructional time in classrooms. The bill passed the floor by a vote of 49 to 0. The bill sponsor, State Senator Lynn Evans (R) moved to substitute the Iowa Senate version for the Iowa House version just passed last week. That version was amended to include a specific date for the state department of education to develop a model policy for school districts to follow. 'I believe that this is actually good legislation because we are encouraging school boards to take up a matter that we all know could be a problem, but it doesn't take away local control,' said State Senator Lynn Evans, (R) District 3 from Aurelia. Des Moines latest city to permanently move night of trick-or-treating A democratic state senator proposed an amendment to add private schools to be included in the language of requiring a phone restriction. The bill as written would require school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools and innovation zone schools to have a policy relating to electronic device use. That language does not fully include all private schools in the state. 'Since we are sending an awful lot of state money to private schools, hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars every year, one of the fastest growing parts of our state budget, the legislature should have a say,' said State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (D) District 14 from Waukee. That amendment was voted down by the Senate Republican majority. One senator from the majority party read off comments that a high school student in the state shared at a subcommittee for the bill back at the beginning of the session. 'It's clear the reality they are residing in isn't good, suicide rates and depression rates have skyrocketed and the ability to socialize for this generation has diminished. Overall, it is better for the majority of students to have a ban on cell phones,' said State Senator Kara Warme (R) District 26 from Ames. The bill now goes back over to the Iowa House where the body will consider the amendment filed in the Iowa Senate. Barring any further changes in the chamber, the bill would be cleared to send to Governor Reynolds to sign into law if passed. Iowa News: Iowa Barber Coalition urging lawmakers to approve bill to allow training on the job Iowa Senate amends, approves Governor Reynolds' school cellphone restriction bill Skylar Vann and Oklahoma easily dispatch Iowa from women's NCAA Tournament, 96-62 WHO 13 Farm Report: Monday, March 24th Iowa AG: January officer-involved shooting in Storm Lake standoff was justified Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
