Leaders of agencies that provide care for about 15-thousand intellectually disabled Iowans are worried about changes to Medicaid.
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The group warned that the state’s privatized Medicaid system is creating chaos for their intellectually disabled clients. Some who cannot live on their own are being denied in-home care or being sent to nursing homes. Kelsey Clark of Madrid, an advocate for Medicaid patients, says having out-of-state companies manage care for disabled Iowans is leading to “human tragedy” and may force some providers to close.
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Shelley Chandler of the Iowa Association of Community Providers says Iowa is the only state that has private companies managing “non-medical care” for its intellectually disabled residents.
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Former Governor Terry Branstad ended the state-managed, fee-for-service Medicaid system on April 1st of 2016. The state is paying two private companies to manage care for about 680-thousand Iowans on Medicaid today. Governor Kim Reynolds has said after some hiccups, the privatized system is helping to control costs for the state. A Reynolds campaign spokesman says the governor “is focused on getting results and help for every Iowan who relies on this Medicaid system.”