A key Republican legislator says Iowa doctors who sign contracts with one of the three companies hired to manage care for Medicaid patients will be paid more than they would get in other states. Representative Dave Heaton, a Republican from Mount Pleasant, is chairman of a budget panel that deals with this issue. Heaton says based on action in Congress, many other states are reducing payments to doctors who provide care to low income and disabled patients who are on Medicaid.
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Nearly a year ago Governor Terry Branstad unveiled plans to shift Medicaid patients into private managed care plans. About 560-thousand Iowans get their health care coverage through the government’s Medicaid program.
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State officials are still waiting for a federal agency to approve a waiver for Medicaid privatization to begin in Iowa on March 1st. Heaton says he hopes that decision is announced next week to give everyone involved two weeks to get ready.