Iowa State Auditor Mary Mosiman says she cannot say when a review of the state’s Medicaid program will be released to the public. In June, Mosiman announced her office would examine the data to determine if Medicaid costs have been reduced since private companies assumed management of patient care. The move to privatize the system has become a political issue in the governor’s race. Mosiman, a Republican who is also seeking re-election, says she cannot answer specifics about a work in progress, but Mosiman says the final report from her office will provide “financial clarity” about Medicaid costs.

Rob Sand, the Democrat challenging Mosiman, says he agrees the examination shouldn’t be political, but Sand says the auditor’s office needs to equip voters with the facts about what’s happened since Medicaid was privatized in 2016.

About 680-thousand low income, disabled and elderly Iowans are enrolled in Medicaid. Former Governor Terry Branstad predicted taxpayers would have saved more than 200-million dollars by now due to switching the system to private management. However, a recent report showed per patient costs increased six-and-a-half percent this past year and are projected to jump another 11 percent this year.