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Medicaid Privatization Topic Of The Day At Saturday’s Legislative Forum

At Saturday’s Chamber of Commerce sponsored Legislative Forum, Representative Brian Best and Senator Mark Segebart tackled the subject of Medicaid privatization and the concerns over how quickly the initiative is being rolled out. Segebart said no bill was passed last year to make this move, this is an initiative driven by Gov. Terry Branstad to try to rein in spending after an approximately $80 million shortfall for Medicaid last year. President and CEO of St. Anthony Regional Hospital, Ed Smith told both legislators that there has been a lot of talk about the expansion of Medicaid as far as increased costs, but the government has expanded the Medicaid numbers. The acceleration on privatization and the lack of consultation on the legislative side is outrageous, he said. He hopes both men will take a closer look at how this is moving forward.

Segebart agreed they did not want money that is supposed to be going into the hands of Iowans going to private insurance companies and that the legislature is still working to put together an effective oversight committee. Best, whose business is in the medical field said there is a lot of frustration from all legislators at this point.

Local dentist, Dr. Lynn Curry said the legislators need to wake up to reality. Dentists today, he said, are paying more for actual costs to treat Medicaid patients than what they are being reimbursed. The legislature is asking providers to take a loss on each case.

Segebart told the group gathered that the premise of the Managed Care Organizations is to get control over that, but right now, it is a train wreck.

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