Iowa Senate Democrats

Fighting for a Better Deal for Iowans.

  • What Iowans are saying

    Iowans want decent-paying jobs, affordable health care and the chance to lead a good life. In recent years, however, we’ve seen stagnant wages, rising health care costs and more Iowans living paycheck to paycheck. Iowans deserve better.

    In a survey earlier this session, Senate Democrats asked what you think can best help everyday Iowans. The table below summarizes your top responses.

    Many Iowans also shared their thoughts on how we can move Iowa forward. Here’s a sample of what you had to say:

    • Jobs – “Iowans I know are working two or more jobs without healthcare benefits to stay afloat. They live paycheck to paycheck with no financial reserves for something as basic as a car repair or an unexpected illness. Thousands of Iowans are barely surviving financially rather than living this wonderful middle class life we keep hearing about. This is true throughout the state and is deeply felt in rural Iowa.” –Mary from Ottumwa
    • Worker training – “Keep improving our community colleges, to expand the trade programs. Our state needs trained workers to fill jobs that are screaming for applicants.” –Ron from Eldridge
    • Rural Iowa – “We need to have more industry of all kinds and technology jobs in rural areas to improve economies of small towns so that people are not moving away to cities and out of state.” -Linda from Spencer
    • Health care – “I hear on a regular basis how parents have had to quit jobs to take care of disabled children. Patients are having to forgo medication because insurance won’t pay for it even if they have tried other medications or been on the medications for years.” –Melissa from Coralville
    • Education – “I’m a parent with a child in kindergarten and I substitute for the same school district, and from both sides, I can see the need to give more funds in education. Our children are the future, we should be giving them the best education we can and paying teacher’s a better wage too for all they deal with.” –Lisa from Clinton

    Thank you to all who offered their input. I am committed to Putting Iowans First by focusing on our shared values of fairness, compassion, dignity, equality and liberty.

    Please continue giving your feedback to ensure we do all we can to help you, your family and your community. Working together, we can get Iowa back on the right track.

  • Democratic Senators announce Medicaid Improvement Bill

    DES MOINES —  Two health care leaders in the Iowa Senate have introduced legislation to make significant reforms to Iowa’s privatized Medicaid system.

    Senate File 156, the Senate Democratic Medicaid Improvement Bill, has been introduced by Senators Amanda Ragan of Mason City and Liz Mathis of Hiawatha.  They are, respectively, the ranking members of the Senate Health & Human Services Budget Committee and the Senate Human Resources Committee.

    “Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans are sticking with privatized Medicaid,” Ragan said.  “Given that, our focus is making urgently needed improvements.  We are proposing large and small improvements to how privatized Medicaid serves Iowa families and healthcare providers.”

    “Iowans need privatized Medicaid to do three things and do them well,” Mathis said. “One, make sure Iowans get the healthcare services they need when they need them. Two, make sure Iowa healthcare providers are correctly paid for the work they do and paid on time. Three, key Medicaid decisions should be made by Iowans rather than by employees of out-of-state, for-profit companies.”

    News Conference Video:

    Senate File 156 Highlights

    Senate File 156 would make these  changes to Iowa’s privatized Medicaid on behalf of Iowa patients and providers:

    Return the Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) population to publicly managed Medicaid

    The MCOs are supposed to make money by helping sick people get better and thereby lowering costs. Many Iowans suffering the most from privatized Medicaid system are Iowans living with severe, complex, permanent disabilities and conditions.  Because these Iowans aren’t going to “get better,” denying care and cutting needed services is largely the only way to “save money.”  This is unacceptable.

     

    Require independent conflict-free case management and assessments

    There is an inherent conflict of interest in privatized managed care.  Case management and patient assessments are both performed by employees of the MCO that pays for the care of those patients.  Assessments are more accurate when made by an independent entity and coordinated by case managers who  put the patient’s best interest first.

    End the practice of requiring prior authorization for substance abuse treatment

    Every substance abuse counselor knows that an immediate response is essential when someone requests treatment.  “Medication assisted treatment” can quickly take away the cravings once it begins.  However, waiting for prior authorizations results in missed opportunities or even overdose deaths that could have been prevented.

    Require MCOs to develop and implement workforce recruitment, retention and training programs

    Iowa has a severe health care workforce shortage.  The MCOs now manage the care of some 600,000 Iowans.  Every other major health care provider and insurer in the state of Iowa contributes time, talent, and money to efforts to expand and improve Iowa’s health care workforce.  This legislation will require the MCOs to join that effort.

    Implement an external review process for providers

    Today, when the MCOs deny a claim, an Iowa health care provider can only attempt  to negotiate with MCO that denied the claim. When commercial health insurers deny claims, providers can appeal to an external reviewer.  This legislation establishes a similar appeal system when the MCOs refuse to pay for care.

    Make it easier and quicker for members to switch MCOs

    If a local doctor decides to switch the MCO he or she contracts with, that doctor’s patients must be able switch COs if they want to continue seeing that doctor.  Currently, patients must wait up to 45 days before they can ask DHS to approve a change for good cause.  This is an unusually long and burdensome process for Iowans.   This legislation would allow patients to request that DHS approve an MCO switch after 10 days.

    Move the Managed Care Ombudsman Program to the State Ombudsman’s Office

    Independent advocates for Iowans are an absolute necessary if Iowa managed care is going to work.  Iowa’s Long Term Care Ombudsman has only one full-time managed care ombudsman.  There could be three to four more working for Iowa families and health care providers if we took full advantage of federal matching funds.  The MCO ombudsman services should be moved to the State Ombudsman Office.

    -end-

  • GOP school funding shortchanges students & schools

    Feb. 4, 2019

    Statement from State Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames,
    ranking member of the Senate Education Committee,
    on inadequate GOP’s education spending plan

    “It’s disappointing that legislative Republicans are even undercutting the Governor’s level of education spending.

    “Senate Democrats will support a robust education funding plan that will make up for inflationary losses over the past two years and provide a modest increase as well.

    “We believe that a 3 percent increase is what Iowa schools, educators and students deserve.”

    -end-

  • Iowa shouldn’t sell off its courts to the highest bidders

    Feb. 4, 2019

    Senate Democratic Leader on proposal
    by legislative Republicans to politicize Iowa courts

    “There is no reason to change a judicial selection process that is respected throughout the country and is working well. The plan by legislative Republicans to politicize Iowa’s court system is bad news for Iowans.

    “As the Judicial Branch’s website notes: ‘Merit selection is designed to emphasize the professional qualifications of applicants for judicial appointment and minimize partisan politics.’ That’s apparently not good enough for Republican politicians.

    “They are planning to throw out the current, nonpartisan system for selecting judges for no good reason. In its place, they want a new system that will favor their political appointees and donors. Iowa shouldn’t sell off its courts to the highest bidders!

    “Some Republican politicians still haven’t gotten over the unanimous decision of the Iowa Supreme Court in 2009 to legalize same-sex marriage. They were on the wrong side of history in 2009 and they are on the wrong side of history today.”

    – end –

  • Jochum receives Pharmacy Association’s “Good Governance Award”

    During the Iowa Pharmacy Association’s annual Legislative Day, State Sen. Pam Jochum accepted the organization’s annual Good Governance Award for her efforts and support of public health and the pharmacy profession. More than 200 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and student pharmacists were on hand, including (from left) Grant Houselog, Steven Lenda, Andrew Sabers, Verent Yee and Steven Strong.

    IOWA SENATE NEWS
    January 29, 2019

    State Sen. Pam Jochum (D-Dubuque) was presented today with the Iowa Pharmacy Association’s Good Governance Award during the organization’s annual Legislative Day in Des Moines.

    The Good Governance Award recognizes Sen. Jochum’s legislative efforts and support for public health and the pharmacy profession.

    “Keeping the health of Iowans front and center has always been a priority for me. This year, I continue that focus through my service on the Human Resources and State Government committees,” Sen. Jochum said. “It’s an honor and a privilege to fight for good health care and the work of our health care providers.”

    Sen. Jochum is a state leader on health care issues. She has worked to expand affordable health insurance coverage to thousands of working Iowans, to protect the health services of Iowans with disabilities and to ensure all Iowans have access the health care they need.

    “Sen. Jochum understands the importance of protecting patients and has worked tirelessly to ensure healthcare providers are equipped to provide the best care possible. She has been a constant source of advice to the pharmacy profession and has positively influenced our legislative priorities over the past 25-plus years,” said Kate Gainer, executive vice president and CEO for the Iowa Pharmacy Association.

    Sen. Jochum is an Assistant Democratic Leader. She serves on the following committees:

    -end-

  • Senate Dem Leader on abortion ruling

    Jan. 22, 2019

     

    Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen on Court Decision

    “The District Court decision sends a strong message to Iowa women that their constitutional rights are important and their health care decisions should be made by them, not politicians.

    “The extreme law should have been overturned because it restricted the freedom of Iowa women and girls to care for their bodies and it forced  motherhood on them.

    “The Governor and legislative Republicans should stop attacking women’s health care. I want Iowa to be known as the safest place in the country to have a baby.”

    -end-

  • Senate Republicans vote to shut out Iowans

    Jan. 15, 2019

    A Statement by Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen 

    “For years, many Iowans wondered if legislative Republicans had stopped listening to their concerns.

    “The action today by Senate Republicans demonstrates that they don’t want to listen to Iowans anymore.

    “Every Republican Senator on the Human Resources Committee voted today to:

    • Eliminate the requirement that all subcommittees be open to the public.
    • Eliminate the requirement that the time and place of subcommittee meetings be posted 24 hours in advance.

    “Democratic members of the Committee voted against the changes.

    “Republican leaders have signaled that similar changes are planned for most other Senate committees.

    “These changes are a shameful, deliberate attempt by Senate Republicans to cut more back-room deals and to keep taxpayers in the dark about what they are doing.”

    – end –

  • Senate Dem Leader on Governor’s Condition of the State address

    Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen shares her reaction to the Governor’s Condition of the State address with Sabrina Ahmed of WOI-TV News 5.

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For immediate release: January 15, 2019

     

    Statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen on Condition of the State address

    “We are concerned that for the past two years, the Governor and legislative Republicans have pushed everyday Iowans – students, seniors, workers and women – to the back of the line. At the same time, Republicans allowed millionaires, big corporations and out-of-state MCOs to cut to the front of the line.

    “We agree with the Governor when she says it’s time for her and others to deliver on their promises to fully fund mental health, rural revitalization and job training initiatives.

    “When we can work with Republicans, we will. Our goal this session is to keep focused on improving the lives of everyday Iowans.  Our message to Iowans is this: ‘We work for you!’”

    – end –

  • Partial review of privatized Medicaid disaster doesn’t answer concerns

    Iowa Senate News Release
    For Immediate Release:  November 26, 2018

     

    Statement from Senator Pam Jochum on partial review of Medicaid privatization disaster

    “The partial review of the Medicaid privatization disaster by the departing State Auditor is a big pile of excuses with no good answers for Iowa taxpayers who are being ripped off.

    “State Auditor Mary Mosiman joins a long line of Republican politicians – led by Governor Reynolds and Republican legislative leaders – who still cannot answer these simple questions:

    • What data is there to show that privatized Medicaid is making Iowans healthier?
    • What data is there to show how much the out-of-state corporations still owe Iowa hospitals, doctors and other health care providers for services provided to Medicaid members?

    “We remain concerned that the unexpected $100 million increase in payments to the out-of-state corporations running Medicaid will result in further cuts and delayed payments to Iowa health care providers that provide critical services to hundreds of thousands of Iowans, as well as additional cuts to education, health care and public safety to cover the additional payments to the corporations.

    “We hope that the Governor and legislative leaders of both parties will work with the newly elected State Auditor, Rob Sand, to open up the books and give Iowans an honest assessment of the impact of privatized Medicaid on Iowa taxpayers, Medicaid members and health care providers.

    “Finally, we renew our call for Governor Reynolds and legislative Republicans to finally reverse course and join legislative Democrats in supporting a return to a more efficient, publicly managed system.”

    -end-

  • Is rationing health care the Iowa GOP’s secret plan to “fix” Medicaid mess?

    IA SEN NEWS
    Oct. 30, 2018

    In the final days of the 2018 campaign, a Northwest Iowa State Senator may have mistakenly released the Republican Party of Iowa’s secret plan to “fix” the Medicaid privatization mess.

    During a forum last week sponsored by the Sioux City Rotary Club, State Senator Jim Carlin of Sioux City proposed rationing health care for Medicaid recipients.

    Carlin specifically said lawmakers should “look into limiting the number of doctor visits” by people on Medicaid.

    Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen called Carlin’s proposal “mean-spirited and dangerous.”

    “This is another example of a politician playing doctor,” Petersen said. “The last thing that Iowa parents need is to be worried about politicians placing arbitrary caps on the number of times their children can visit the family doctor for an ear infection, a broken arm or diabetes. And how could the Legislature and Governor limit the number of doctor visits for disabled Iowans or those with chronic illnesses? That’s mean-spirited and dangerous.”

    Throughout 2017 and 2018, Governor Reynolds and other Republican leaders acknowledged “mistakes were made” with Medicaid privatization, but they have offered no solutions for reversing course on a change that has turned over health care management for hundreds of thousands of Iowans to out-of-state corporations.

    As a result, the Reynolds Administration, Senator Carlin and others in the Republican-controlled Legislature have led an effort that has:

    1. Cut and delayed payments to Iowa health care providers that provide critical services to hundreds of thousands of Iowans.
    2. Made health care services even less accessible to Medicaid members.
    3. Shifted more than $100 million away from education, health care and public safety to cover the additional payments to out-of-state corporations.

    “Make no mistake about it, Senator Carlin’s plan would cost Iowa taxpayers more money in the long run and would further endanger the health and safety of Iowans,” Petersen said.

    Read the full Sioux City Journal article: https://tinyurl.com/yd4oouq2

    – end –