Democrats in the Iowa Senate plan to pass a bill that would stop Governor Branstad’s plan to move the 560-thousand Medicaid patients in Iowa into private managed care plans. Senate President Pam Jochum (YOH-kum) is a Democrat from Dubuque…
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The Branstad Administration originally planned to start the switch on January 1st, but federal officials who oversee the Medicaid program ordered a 60-day delay. Senate Democratic Leader Mike Gronstal of Council Bluffs says many Iowa Medicaid patients can’t figure out if their doctor has signed up with one of the three managed care companies, or they’ll be forced to switch to a new doctor…
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House Speaker republican Linda Upmeyer says the governor’s staff has assured her the state is complying with the federal government’s checklist and the program will be ready for the switch on March 1st.