Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • Wednesday: Legislators host discussion about “Medicaid for All” proposal for Iowa

    For Immediate Release: June 20, 2017

     

    Legislators host discussion about “Medicaid for All” proposal for Iowa health insurance mess Wednesday at 6 PM

    (Des Moines)  State Senator  Matt McCoy and State Representative John Forbes invite the public to a public discussion of their “Medicaid for All” solution to Iowa’s health insurance mess.  The goal is to ensure that every Iowan has access to more affordable and reliable health insurance.

    The event will be held at Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Avenue, from 6 PM to 8 PM on Wednesday, June 21.  The event will be livestreamed on Senator McCoy’s Faceboook page, https://www.facebook.com/senatormccoy/.

    The collapse of Iowa’s individual health-insurance market has drawn national attention.  Medica, the last insurer willing to provide individual health insurance policies in Iowa, has announced that a rate increase of an average of 43.5 percent is required for it to continue doing business in Iowa.

    The two legislators seek to allow Iowans on the individual market to purchase health insurance coverage through Medicaid.

    “Given the uncertainty in the individual insurance market, it’s absolutely necessary for Iowa to forge it’s own path to provide access to insurance to all Iowans. It is to critical economic development that self-employed individuals and small businesses have access to more affordable and reliable health insurance. This plan will do that,” said McCoy.

    “The gridlock in Washington, DC makes it imperative for states like Iowa to act independently in providing health insurance coverage. Iowans are practical and self-reliant, and we have the ability to implement this solution,” said Forbes.

    -end-

  • Senator Mathis responds to appointment of new DHS director

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release:  June 14, 2017

     

    Statement on appointment of new DHS director
    by Senator Liz Mathis, lead Democrat on the Senate Human Services Committee

    “The selection of Jerry Foxhoven is a positive step. Along with his work as executive director of the Neal & Bea Smith Legal Clinic at Drake, Jerry has been a facilitator or co-chair of several state task forces and work groups. His inclusive style will serve him well as he digs into the work that needs to be done with the department and the issues around the Medicaid to managed care transition.”

  • Senators respond to DHS Director Palmer retirement

    Senators Liz Mathis and Amanda Ragan at a Medicaid Oversight Committee Meeting.

    Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City, ranking member of the Health and Human Services Budget Committee:

    “I wish retiring Director Palmer well. He’s done his best under difficult circumstances.

    “However, the real problems of a disastrous budget, less staff, higher caseloads, and lack of oversight need to be addressed.  The rollout, implementation, and proven problems with Medicaid privatization can no longer be overlooked.  We need an open, honest assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of DHS and what it needs to succeed, including funding and staffing levels.”

     

    Senator Liz Mathis of Robins, ranking member of the Senate Human Services Committee:

    “With Director Palmer’s retirement comes the opportunity to address some of the problematic issues around casework and managed care. I hope Governor Reynolds will consider someone who is willing to work with both sides of the aisle to accomplish more accessibility to critical services like mental health.

    “I have worked with Director Palmer in a number of ways, from strategic planning on children’s mental health to Medicaid and managed care.  He had a difficult job but Director Palmer was professional and accessible to me as a legislator. I wish him well.”

    -end-

  • Mathis, Ragan respond to Branstad/Reynolds release on Medicaid privatization

    “Everything the Governor lists can be refuted by patients, providers and advocates. Don’t believe this blather,” said Senator Liz Mathis of Robins. “We still have big issues with pre-authorization, physicians dropping hundreds of Medicaid patients and millions of dollars of claims left unpaid to providers. That is far from a successful year.”

    “The willingness of Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds to continue to mislead Iowans about their Medicaid privatization disaster is stunning,” said Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City. “Now it’s up to Lt. Gov. Reynolds to be honest with Iowans and start repairing the damage privatized Medicaid has brought to Iowa families, health care providers and taxpayers.”

    -end-

  • Hindering medical breakthroughs

    Last week, the Senate passed SF 359, a bill to ban voluntary fetal tissue donations.

    This bill puts politics above good science and medicine. The bill is nothing more than a platform for people who are opposed to abortion to perpetuate lies about abortion providers and women who have abortions.

    The legislators behind this bill are the same ones who pushed the personhood bills, would ban all abortion in Iowa and defund Planned Parenthood. This bill does not actually impact the provision of abortion.  It simply harms those who could benefit from medical research.

    It treats abortion differently since research is allowed on fetal tissue following a miscarriage or stillbirth. While an amendment to the bill protects existing cell lines commonly used in research, it means that no new cell lines will be available in the future.

    We don’t know how science will evolve, and to place these kinds of limitation on what kinds of tissue and cells can be researched is short-sighted and could limit future research. While cell lines that meet this definition are available now, several years down the road, there could be a shortage of available cell lines in the future.

    Federal law regulates fetal tissue donation. It recognizes the benefits of fetal tissue donation and does not bar the practice.  It does, however, ban any organization from participating in tissue donation of any kind for profit.

    This bill also sends a message to current and prospective medical researchers that Iowa is not a place to do research on disease curing medical discovery.

  • Workers deserve protections for on-the-job injuries

    Our state’s workers’ compensation system is the only recourse for Iowans injured on the job, but it may soon be turned upside down by a bill scheduled for debate today in the Iowa Senate.

    Iowa’s workers’ compensation has delicately balanced the interests of employers against the need to provide reasonable medical care and fair benefits for workers who suffer disabling on-the-job injuries.

    The system exists to protect those who are injured, become sick or lose their hearing because of the dangers of their employment. However, SF 435 makes sweeping changes that gut those protections, reduce an employer’s liability for workplace injuries, and encourage employers and insurance companies to avoid paying claims.

    This is another attempt by the Legislature to fix something that isn’t broken–and another act that cuts away workplace rights for hard-working Iowans. Our workers’ compensation system earns an “A” grade from the Insurance Journal, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority raves that our state is below average for workers’ compensation premiums.

    In addition, work injury claims are down in Iowa, dropping by 21 percent over the last eight years, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance. The costs of workplace injury and illness are already borne primarily by injured workers, their families and taxpayers. The bulk of workers’ compensation dollars in Iowa goes to medical providers for care.

    Some of the worst measures in SF 435 include:

    • Discriminating against older workers. Iowa workers permanently and totally disabled by a work injury prior to age 67 lose their benefits at age 67; and those injured at age 67 or older are limited to 150 weeks of benefits. This leaves taxpayers to pick up the costs when these older workers become disabled simply because they need to work later in life to make ends meet.
    • Eliminating protections based on an employee’s loss of earning power if the employer returns the injured employee to work for a made up job, but then terminates them, leaving them with no compensation for lost earning ability due to injury.
    • Reducing protections for workers who suffer a shoulder injury, one of the most common work-related injuries that can easily end a career for a manufacturing, construction or meat-packing worker. A workers’ loss of earning capacity would no longer be taken into account when calculating benefits for severely limiting shoulder injuries.

    SF 435 is an overreach that does nothing to help workers or move Iowa’s economy forward. It’s phase two in the attack on the working Iowans whose labor is the very backbone of our economy.

    It’s unforgivable to do this to the workers who literally sacrifice their bodies to provide for their families and Iowa’s economy as a whole.

  • McCoy requests Oversight Committee review of “root causes” of the abuse of Glenwood residents

    March 6, 2017

    Senator Breitbach,

    As Ranking Member of the Senate Government Oversight Committee, I am formally requesting you to convene and hold a meeting to review the Iowa Department of Human Services report to determine “root causes” of physical and verbal abuse of residents of the Glenwood State Resource Center, which houses 230 people with severe intellectual disabilities.

    The report states that “Many of the administrative and supervisory staff interviewed were overwhelmed and felt they could not adequately supervise and complete all of their required workload.”

    The Iowa Department of Human Services runs the facility and disclosed in January that seven residents were physically abused and 13 residents were subjected to verbal abuse or neglect. Thirteen staff members were fired or quit over the allegations, and six face criminal charges.

    The 34-page report was written by the Joint Commission Resources consulting company, which the state hired to investigate what led to alleged physical and verbal abuse of the Glenwood institution’s residents by staff members. The Department says it spent up to $65,000 to commission the report because it wants to understand and fix problems at the facility.

    I believe it’s imperative that the Legislature review this report closely.  That is a large amount of money to pay for a report and recommendations.  We need to make that cost worthwhile by very seriously reviewing and making the necessary changes to keep residents safe.

    I am requesting that the Senate Government Oversight Committee meet next week to review this report.  I would ask that you invite the Department to testify to what recommendations they have already implemented, which would take more time or resources to implement and if any of the report recommendations are inconsistent with the Department’s future plans to increase oversight and support to the Glenwood campus.

    I look forward to hearing from you regarding this request.

    Sincerely,

    Senator Matt McCoy
    Ranking Member, Senate Government Oversight Committee

     

    PDF: McCoy letter to Government Oversight Chair requesting meeting on Glenwood report

    Des Moines Register news story on Glenwood report

    Report on Glenwood Resource Center, which failed to properly train and manage staff, paving way to abuse allegations.

  • Boulton: Iowans need more health security, not less

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For immediate release: February 13, 2017
    Contact: State Senator Nate Boulton, 515-669-4259

     

    DES MOINES – A key Democratic Senator today announced plans to block a key provision in anti-worker legislation (Senate File 213) that would take away the health care security of hundreds of thousands of Iowa workers.

    “We will fight this attempt to take way health care security of hundreds of thousands of Iowa workers,” said State Senator Nate Boulton of Des Moines, lead Democrats on the Senate Labor Committee. “One of the most dangerous provisions of this anti-worker legislation would wipe out hundreds of health insurance plans for Iowa, teachers, correctional officers, EMTs, snow plow drivers, nurses and others who answer the call to serve our communities. That’s wrong.”

    Boulton said the first amendment he has filed to the legislation would strike a provision in the bill that prohibits management and employees from sitting down and negotiating the terms of health insurance benefits. Instead, the amendment establishes a special committee to study ways to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness and fairness of health insurance plans for public employees.

    “Rather than fast-tracking a major change in the health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of Iowans without any thoughtful planning, we are proposing an alternative that would include listening to locally elected officials and other managers, health care professionals and others,” Boulton said.

    Boulton said that well-planned reforms – rather than immediately ditching health care plans that have been mutually agreed upon by employers and their employees – would be a more effective way to attract and retain high-quality public employees across the state.

    “Taking away the health care security of thousands of hard-working Iowans is one of the worst aspects of this horrible piece of legislation,” Boulton said.

    ###

  • Senator Petersen’s opening comments on SF 2, the Attack on Iowa Family Planning Services

    State Senator Janet Petersen’s opening remarks on SF2:

    Thank you Mr. President.

     

    This bill is bad for Iowa women and families.

     

    It will create more unintended pregnancies, more high risk pregnancies, and cost Iowa taxpayers more.

     

    Iowans don’t support it.  Doctors warn against it.  We should listen to them and reject it.

     

    Last week, Senator Sinclair held a 25-minute subcommittee on Senate File 2.

     

    Hundreds of Iowans came to the statehouse that day to make their voices heard about their opposition to Senate File 2, which will gut Iowa’s Family Planning Network.

     

    Senator Sinclair cut off their testimony after 25 minutes.

     

    Senators were not allowed time to ask questions about the bill or provide facts about Iowa’s Family Planning Network.

     

    I have served in the Iowa Legislature for 17 years.  I have never seen a subcommittee conducted that way.

     

    I stayed for nearly an hour after the meeting to listen to Iowans and make sure their stories were heard.

     

    It is unfortunate that not one of the 29 Republican sponsors stuck around to hear what Iowans have to say about their bill – Senate File 2.

     

    Apparently 28 Republican men and 1 Republican woman know what’s best for women’s health care.

     

    To the thousands of Iowans who have written me, asking me to FIGHT SF 2, and to the hundreds of Iowans who have SHOWN UP at the statehouse to have my back, I am HONORED to be your voice today.

     

    Here is what I’ve learned about Senate File 2 so far…

     

    Senate File 2 guts Iowa’s Family Planning Network, a program that has helped more than 80,000 Iowa women and men access family planning services across our state since 2006.

     

    We know the Iowa Family Planning Waiver works.

     

    It has helped reduce abortions and Medicaid costs in Iowa.

     

    The Iowa Family Planning Network is inexpensive for taxpayers.

     

    Iowa’s Family Planning Network program has saved Iowa taxpayers MILLIONS of dollars.

     

    We shouldn’t mess with the program.

     

    LET’S LOOK AT THE FACTS:

     

    The Iowa Family Planning Network WORKS.

     

    An evaluation of the program by the University of Iowa Public Policy Center in May of 2016 showed:

     

    1. The family planning waiver has increased the number of women receiving family planning services within the Medicaid program.

     

    1. Medicaid costs for deliveries and birth and first years of life have declined by nearly $345 million.

     

    1. Very conservative estimates of net Medicaid savings are more than $265 million.

     

    The Iowa Family Planning Network saves Iowa taxpayers money.

     

    For every 10 cents Iowa taxpayers invest in the program, we get an additional 90 cents from the federal government to help pay for the program.

     

    Iowans invest roughly $300,000 in the program each year.  When you add the federal dollars to Iowa’s investment, we get more than $3 million in preventative health services for Iowa women and men throughout the state.

     

    The University of Iowa study shows Iowa taxpayers have saved nearly $3.40 for every dollar they invested in the Iowa Family Planning Network.

     

    Under Senate File 2, Iowa will walk away from all of the federal funds that go to the Iowa Family Planning Network.

     

    The new program devised by 28 men and 1 woman in the Iowa senate, NONE of WHOM have a medical degree, will put the entire cost of the program on the backs of Iowa taxpayers.

     

    It is also important to note, there is no money in Senate File 2 to start this new program.

     

    Yesterday, Rep. Hogg asked Senate President Whitver to send the bill to the budget committee after we received the fiscal note that shows Iowa taxpayers will have to pay $3 million more EVERY YEAR for this Republican concocted program.

     

    The President’s ruling:

     

    Apparently, it doesn’t matter how much Republican-sponsored bills cost Iowa taxpayers anymore.

     

    Just pass the bill and worry about the money later.  We’ve heard that one before.

     

    The current Iowa Family Planning program has reduced unintended pregnancies and abortions.

     

    Senate Republicans want to scrap the successful program and force Iowa taxpayers to spend 10 times the money just to exclude Planned Parenthood from providing care to Iowa women and men.

     

    SENATE FILE 2 does more than DEFUND PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

     

    Under the Republican plan – Senate File 2 completely eliminates the Iowa Family Planning Network and replaces it with a state-run program that doesn’t exist and doesn’t have guaranteed funding to make it happen.

     

    IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, the Iowa Family Planning Network has NEVER funded abortions.

     

    The Iowa Family Planning Network has been successful in preventing abortions and improving Iowa’s birth outcomes.

     

    When you make it harder for Iowans to access family planning services, you increase the number of unintended pregnancies.

     

    Gutting the Iowa Family Planning Network will cause more unintended pregnancies and abortions.

     

    Senate File 2 – puts politicians in charge of women’s health care and THAT IS DANGEROUS.

     

    We’ve been told a new state program will offer more providers and give women more options.  That simply is not true.

     

    On Tuesday, I questioned several bill sponsors about how their new program would “increase access.”  Not one senator could answer the question.

     

    Iowa women aren’t buying your “increased access” talking point.

     

    That is because SF 2 DOES NOT “INCREASE ACCESS” to providers.

     

    Senate File 2 DOES NOT GIVE WOMEN MORE OPTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE.

     

    In fact it will force thousands of Iowa women to leave a provider they chose and go to a provider selected by 29 politicians.

     

    It will disqualify many of Iowa’s most qualified health specialists from serving Iowa women in the program.

     

    Providers aren’t magically going to fall out of the sky for this new program.

     

    The so-called TIER process outlined in the bill and in DHS’s plan is totally confusing.  We just got DHS’s plan yesterday.

    Finding a provider to give you a Pap Smear shouldn’t be rocket science, but thanks to Senate Republicans – it soon could be.

     

    EXAMPLE – if you pick a TIER 3 provider – you’ll have to let them know you would have to travel more than 25 miles to see another provider.

     

    DHS says they can do marketing to explain their new PAP SMEAR TIERS.

     

    Is that really what we want DHS wasting their time doing?

     

    WOULDN’T we rather have DHS spend its time doing child protective investigations, figuring out how to get better mental health care for Iowans, taking care of Iowans with disabilities?

     

    WHY are we getting rid of a program that works?

     

    WHY are we getting rid of a program that prevents abortions and unintended pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted infections?

     

    The bill doesn’t even explain how, when and how much providers will get paid to participate in the program.

     

    Let’s remember, the women participating in our current Family Planning Network program are not participating in the program for ABORTIONS.  It is the absolute opposite.

     

    These Iowa women are participating in the Iowa Family Planning Network to take care of their bodies and to prevent unintended pregnancies and abortions.

     

    YET, now a group of 29 politicians (28 of whom have NEVER gotten completely undressed, put on a paper gown, and put their feet in the stirrups for a vaginal exam) are telling women they know what is best for them.

     

    Iowans have every right to be concerned about this legislation.

     

    Iowa taxpayers have every right to be angry that we are giving up millions of dollars in federal funding to start another government program that will be paid for fully on the backs of Iowa taxpayers.

     

    Iowans who worry about the health and safety of our children, people with mental illness and disabilities, should be piping mad that this program will take away funds that should have been going to them.

     

    To the thousands of Iowa women who may lose their health care coverage and family planning coverage when Republican repeal ObamaCare – Senate File 2 is not prepared to add you to the program.  You will be out of luck for your care under the new Republican program.  It will offer first come, first serve birth control.  If we keep our current system that actually works, the program would be able to include you – and at a very small cost to Iowa taxpayers.

     

    God forbid, if we have a ZIKA outbreak or other disaster – the size of the program will not increase to keep up with the demand for Family Planning services as it would under the current Iowa Family Planning Waiver.

     

    The document I received from DHS on Tuesday STATES on PAGE 5 – If spending exceeds the appropriated amount, CLAIMS WILL NOT BE PAID.

     

    Yesterday, I asked a few of the bill sponsors about the letter we received from the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and American College of Nurse-Midwives.

     

    One sponsor said he’s sure he got the letter, but he didn’t read it or remember reading it.

     

    IT WAS A WARNING LETTER ABOUT THE BILL from Iowa’s top health care professionals.

     

    • READ LETTER-

     

    I cannot stress enough how dangerous it is to IGNORE doctors warnings about the dangers of this bill to women, girls and families in our state.

     

    DO NOT TELL ME YOU ARE SUPPORTING THIS BILL BECAUSE YOU ARE PRO-LIFE – because this bill will most certainly lead to TRAGEDY like it has already, affecting our sisters in Texas.

     

    • HIGHLIGHT Texas Disaster examples

     

     

    BOTTOM LINE –

     

    This bill is dangerous and endangers the health of thousands of Iowa women.

     

    This bill will cost Iowa taxpayers more money.

     

    Under this bill Iowa women fewer options for their health care, NOT MORE.   It decreases access.

     

    • 28 Republican men and 1 Republican woman will tell women where they can go and can’t go for their care.

     

    • Let’s remember – 74% of Iowans support public funding to Planned Parenthood for family planning

     

    THIS NEW PROGRAM only offers FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE birth control.

     

    Who wants to come to a state that treats women like that?

     

    Senate Republicans got rid of the economic development committee after taking control of the Iowa Senate.  They said ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT would be part of every committee’s work.

     

    SO, let me say this – Senate File 2 – is a step in the wrong direction.

     

    Gutting the Iowa Family Planning Network is not going to help Iowa improve its ranking from DEAD LAST for women entrepreneurs.

     

    Why would we GUT the Iowa Family Planning Network?

     

    The program works.

     

    It SAVES taxpayers millions of dollars

     

    It has helped reduce abortions and Medicaid costs.

     

    We shouldn’t mess with it.

     

    I urge the body to stand up for Iowans.

     

    Stand up for Iowa women.

     

    Stand up for Iowa girls.

     

    Stand up for Iowa’s future.

     

    REJECT SF 2.

     

    END

     

     

  • Democratic Leader: Contact Republican Senators about budget cuts

    Senate Democratic Leader Rob Hogg is urging Iowans to contact Republican Senators this week about their proposals for major mid-year budget cuts and the defunding of Planned Parenthood.

    Their mid-year budget cuts would take away critical funding for education, public safety, and our courts. If enacted it would be a cut of over $26 million from education, with $18 million from our public universities alone. The justice system would face a mid-year budget cut of more than $10 million, undermining the state’s ability to keep our communities as safe as possible.

    In addition to drastic budget cuts, the Senate Republicans want to end federal funding for Planned Parenthood, making it difficult for thousands of Iowa women to get the preventative health care they need.

    Below are the names of Republican Senators to contact. Those on the Judiciary and Appropriations committees are noted, because those committees will initially determine the future of these proposals.

    You can reach them by calling the Senate switchboard at 515-281-3371. If you’re unable to reach them, please leave a message.

    Senator Bill Anderson
    Senator Jerry Behn
    Senator Rick Bertrand (Appropriations)
    Senator Michael Breitbach
    Senator Waylon Brown
    Senator Jake Chapman
    Senator Mark Chelgren (Appropriations)
    Senator Mark Costello (Appropriations)
    Senator Dan Dawson (Vice Chair of Judiciary)
    Senator Bill Dix (Republican Leader)
    Senator Jeff Edler (Judiciary)
    Senator Randy Feenstra
    Senator Julian B. Garrett (Appropriations and Judiciary)
    Senator Thomas A. Greene (Appropriations)
    Senator Dennis Guth (Appropriations)
    Senator Craig Johnson (Appropriations)
    Senator Tim Kapucian
    Senator Tim Kraayenbrink (Vice Chair of Appropriations)
    Senator Mark S. Lofgren (Appropriations)
    Senator Ken Rozenboom (Appropriations)
    Senator Charles Schneider (Chair of Appropriations, Member of Judiciary)
    Senator Jason Schultz (Judiciary)
    Senator Mark Segebart
    Senator Tom Shipley (Appropriations and Judiciary)
    Senator Amy Sinclair (Judiciary)
    Senator Roby Smith
    Senator Jack Whitver
    Senator Brad Zaun (Chair of Judiciary)
    Senator Dan Zumbach (Appropriations)