Chet Culver, Senate Democrats embrace private health care for themselves, but not for Iowans
In 2006 speech, former Gov. Culver said Iowans deserve the same quality care elected officials receive, but now he has changed his tune
Priorities for Iowa, a nonpartisan 501(c)4 dedicated to educating Iowans on public policy, today is examining why former Gov. Chet Culver and Iowa Senate Democrats believe private health care is good enough for them and their families, but not for the most vulnerable Iowans. Culver and Senate Democrats are embarking on a endeavor to terminate Medicaid modernization for 560,000 Iowans, which would leave patients in an antiquated health care system.
In an Oct. 14, 2006, speech Culver told Iowans, “We’re going to give Iowans…the same access and the same type of health care that elected officials get. What makes us [elected officials] so special?”
That statement begs the question as to why Culver now believes Iowans shouldn’t have quality health care, similar to that of elected officials and their families?
In Oct. 2006, former Gov. Chet Culver said all Iowans deserve the same access and type of health care that elected officials receive.
Today, Culver is working to terminate an initiative that would provide private, modern Medicaid services for 560,000 Iowans.
Quality private health care: Good enough for Culver then, but not now?
“Governor Culver and Iowa Senate Democrats are embarking on a crusade to deprive the most vulnerable Iowans of high-quality modern health care,” said Priorities for Iowa executive director Jimmy Centers. “As Iowa Senate Democrats appear poised to terminate the modernization of Medicaid, they have dispatched their old political ally Chet Culver. Iowans didn’t forget, however, that under Culver and a Democrat-controlled Iowa Legislature, Medicaid costs soared by $900 million, there was a Medicaid budget deficit of $500 million, which meant that K-12 education funding inched up by $259 million, a fraction of Medicaid cost growth.”
Medicaid costs in Iowa are $4.2 billion annually. For perspective, the state’s entire General Fund budget in FY2015 was $7.2 billion.
Medicaid costs have grown by 73 percent since 2003. Pulling the plug on Medicaid modernization would mean Medicaid costs would increase by 21 percent in the coming years.
High-risk Medicaid patients have an average of 4.2 medical conditions, 5 physicians and 5.6 prescribers. Thirty-nine other states and Washington, D.C. have managed care. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has stated that Medicaid modernization “can increase access to quality care for Medicaid beneficiaries, reduce costs, and improve the health of communities.”
Centers continued by pointing to the decision that must be made. “Iowa has a choice. Embrace the past with former Governor Culver and Senate Democrats. Or, offer modernized health care that improves wellness for the most vulnerable Iowans while controlling costs for the taxpayers who finance Iowa’s Medicaid system.”
Under the plan to modernize Medicaid in Iowa, benefits do not change. Managed care organizations (MCOs) are contractually required to offer the same benefits Medicaid patients get today. However, these MCOs offer a wide variety of value-added services to improve patient health, which will reduce taxpayer cost.
Examples include patient access to a 24-hour nurse hotline to ask health care questions. Patients will get a phone call to remind them to refill prescriptions and can receive rewards for living a healthier lifestyle. Nutrition counseling is available under managed care. If a patient visits the emergency room too often, the MCO will set up a primary care doctor appointment for the patient to get quality, regular care from a physician.
