DES MOINES — The Iowa Long-Term Care Ombudsman’s Office has issued a state report showing that there was a sharp decline in Iowa nursing home facility visits, advocacy and training in a 12-month period ending September 30, 2019.
Iowa has a large population of vulnerable seniors living in facilities across the state. During the 2020 session of the Iowa Legislature, a broad group of Iowa organizations supported Senate File 2278, legislation which called for an adequate budget to hire more help, make regular and unannounced visits to the state’s nursing homes and cover costs of those visits.
“It’s shameful that the Republican majority in the Senate would not move a bill that called for minimum help for our state’s elderly, who live in long-term care facilities,” said Senator Liz Mathis, the ranking member of the Senate Human Resources Committee. “Now during a pandemic, this neglect has laid bare that under-funding at a time of crisis can kill. We have lost nearly 400 Iowa seniors to coronavirus.”
The Republicans who control the Iowa Senate chose not to hold a hearing of any kind on Senate File 2278. The bill was supported by a broad range of groups and no group registered against it.
“We have a responsibility to our seniors to make sure there is help when they have concerns about the health care they are receiving,” said Mathis. “We used to be ranked highly among states that advocated for our elderly. Now we are last on the list and because of shortsightedness from the Majority and our most vulnerable have no voice.”
Hospitals and our front-line workers are the backbone of our community. Now, more than ever, we need to support them. As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, our hospital systems have been strained to a degree that will put many of them at risk of closing.
In March of 2020, our health providers entered a fiscal crisis that forced the furlough of more than 1.4 million workers in just a six-week period. As a result, Congress approved some solutions that will provide temporary relief in the form of grants. However, the relief they provided was not nearly enough.
According to the American Hospital Association, hospitals across the country will lose more than two-hundred billion dollars by the end of June. This is just the tip of the iceberg as these numbers will continue to grow as flu season and the possibility of a COVID-19 resurgence comes again this fall.
Here in Iowa, our hospitals have supported our communities in so many ways. From large urban centers to suburban communities to our rural counties, our hospitals are the key to a thriving community.
Hospitals and other healthcare providers accessed advanced payments through the CARES Act Medicare Loan Fund to bridge losses. Loan forgiveness is vitally important and is much more critical now, given the fact that hospital losses have far exceeded the relief from Cares Act grants. The losses continue, as the ramp up is gradual.
We need Congress to stand up and support our hospitals by forgiving the Cares Act Medicare loans that have been issued. The cost of this pandemic has hit many sectors of the economy and our health care system is no exception. We need Congress to act and act fast to protect our hospitals and our front-line workers.
State Senator Annette Sweeney Senate District 25 R-Alden
State Senator Liz Mathis Senate District 34 D-Hiawatha
By State Sen. Liz Mathis, Hiawatha (Senate District 34)
There are few things more important than the future of our
children. As legislators, I believe we need to reflect that in our work at the
State Capitol.
This year I have introduced several bills about children’s
needs. After working on the children’s mental health system design and sitting
on the Children’s Behavioral Health System State Board, I have learned from educators
and mental health providers about immediate needs and long-term goals for
alleviating the crisis and anxiety that kids are experiencing in their lives.
The bills include creating a grant program using $15 million
in Instructional Support Levy dollars to develop and improve mental health
services in the schools (SF2042
and SF2071),
creating mental health days with follow-up from school mental health staff (SF2067)
and making certain the Your Life Iowa crisis line is on school IDs (SF2027).
Since passing the children’s mental health system bill last
year, we are working together on next steps: organizing core services needed at
local levels and funding the system. Hard work is ahead to ensure the system is
developed and supported.
Other bills I’ve introduced include expanding pre-school
programs and using vacant schools to house pre-schools and daycare centers in
urban and rural areas and other legislation to help more pregnant women and new
moms for a longer period of time.
I’ve signed up as a sponsor to lower the cost of day care
for families (SF2110)
and to allow for supports for our direct-care workforce (SF2098).
This week I joined three other legislators, two across the aisle, to mandate
that health insurance includes treatment for a pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric
syndrome (PANS).
Iowa Senate News Release For Immediate Release: September 4, 2019
Senator Liz Mathis receives “2019 Legislative Friend of Housing” Award
CEDAR RAPIDS: Today State Senator Liz Mathis of Hiawatha received the 2019 “Legislative Friend of Housing” award at the statewide 2019 Housing Iowa Conference currently being held in Cedar Rapids.
The award recognizes “a
legislator who has actively participated in committees involving affordable
housing legislation, has developed strong grass roots initiatives and makes
improving the lives of Iowans through affordable housing an integral part of
his/her legislative work.”*
“There are few things
more important in life than a home that is safe and affordable,” Mathis said.
“Iowa communities both large and small struggle to provide families with high
quality, affordable places to live. In the State Senate, I’ve focused on
housing because solving this problem will help our children succeed, help
businesses grow, and improve the lives of Iowa seniors.
The specific work that led to
Mathis’ nomination included:
Helping
lead the restoration of flooded Cedar Rapids homes.
Expanding
affordable housing for workers after the floods.
Working
to restore single-family housing in a core neighborhood that was under stress.
Organizing
a state-wide tour of affordable housing in the cities of Dubuque, Des Moines
and Carroll.
Housing legislation
Senator Mathis helped pass or fund include: the State Housing Trust Fund, the
Workforce Housing Tax Credit, the creation of a new state income tax exemption
for deposits in a First-time Homebuyer Savings Account, Workforce Housing
Set-Asides for Iowa’s smaller communities, the Home Ownership Assistance
Program for military service members and veterans, and Redevelopment Tax
Credits.
Senator Mathis is the
ranking member of the Human Resources Committee and Ag & Natural Resources
Budget. She also serves on the Agriculture, Appropriations, Commerce and Ethics
committees. Additional information and photos of Senator Mathis can be
found at http://www.senate.iowa.gov/senator/mathis/
Iowa Senate News Release For Immediate Release: April 17, 2019
Key Iowa Senators applaud investigation by U.S. Inspector General
DES MOINES – The U.S. Office of Inspector General has launched an investigative review of whether federal officials are providing sufficient and appropriate oversight to ensure that people with Medicaid are receiving the care to which they are entitled.
Citing the lack of oversight of privatized Medicaid by Governor Reynolds and the Republican-controlled Legislature, two key Iowa State Senators today praised the new investigation.
“Since it was launched three years ago in Iowa, privatized Medicaid has been unsustainable, unaffordable and unaccountable,” Senator Amanda Ragan of Mason City and Liz Mathis of Hiawatha wrote in a letter to U.S. Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson. “There has been little effort by the Governor or majority party in the Iowa General Assembly to provide proper oversight for the out-of-state managed care organizations (MCOs).”
The Senators added: “Medicaid advocates, policymakers and other taxpayers deserve an investigation by the Inspector General that provides an answer to the question that we have asked since the start of Medicaid privatization in Iowa: Are some MCOs putting the bottom line ahead of patient health and safety?”
The Inspector General initiated the review of the oversight role of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at the request of U.S. Senator Robert Casey of Pennsylvania, Ranking Member of the Special Committee on Aging.
In his request, Casey cited reports from across the country “alleging that some Medicaid managed care companies (MCOs) continuously deny care to patients sorely in need of care. In some cases, patients have experienced entirely preventable life-altering harms.”
“Medicaid is emblematic of who we are as a nation, reflecting who we value and the ideals we are willing to fight for,” Casey added. “We must ensure Medicaid MCOs live up to these ideals and provide Americans with the health care that they deserve.”
In its description of the investigation, the Inspector General acknowledges that privatized Medicaid “can create an incentive to deny beneficiaries’ access to covered services.”
“Our review will determine whether Medicaid MCOs complied with Federal requirements when denying access to requested medical and dental services and drug prescriptions that required prior authorization,” the agency’s website states.
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.
Senate Democratsrelease updated committee assignmentsfor 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature
DES MOINES — Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen released updated committee assignments today for Democratic State Senators for the 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature.
A statement from Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen on the updated assignments:
“In early December, I deferred making committee assignments for Senator Boulton until the Senate Ethics Committee completed its investigation into the complaint filed against him.
“Senator Boulton’s position in the Iowa Senate was preserved by the Senate Ethics Committee ruling. He is expected to uphold the duties of his office while he remains in the Iowa Senate, including working on new committee assignments.”
The 88th General Assembly will begin at 10 a.m. Monday, January 14, 2019.
Senate Democratic Leader Janet Petersen released committee assignments today for Democratic State Senators for the 2019 session of the Iowa Legislature.
“Democratic Senators are committed to working with the Governor and Republican legislators on issues where we can find common ground over the next two years, especially ensuring Iowans have access to affordable health care and better-paying job opportunities,” Petersen said.
“However, if Republicans continue pushing an agenda that hurts the health care, education and pocketbooks of working Iowans, we will be fierce in our opposition.”
The 88th General Assembly will begin on Monday, January 14, 2019.
—————————————————–
Standing Committees
Agriculture
13 total members
1. Kinney –RM
2. Mathis
3. Ragan
4. R. Taylor
5. Wahls
Appropriations
21 members
1. Bolkcom –RM
2. Celsi
3. Dotzler
4. Lykam
5. Mathis
6. Ragan
7. T. Taylor
8. Wahls
Iowa Senate News Release
For immediate release: November 11, 2018
Democratic members of the Iowa Senate re-elected Sen. Janet Petersen today to serve as the Democratic Leader of the Iowa Senate.
Senator Petersen released this statement:
“I am honored to have the continued support of my fellow Democratic Senators.”
“For the past two years, the Republican-led Senate pushed through damaging policies that helped out-of-state companies and special interests instead of hard-working Iowa families.
“Senate Democrats will continue standing up for Iowans. We believe every Iowan – regardless of whether they live in rural areas, small towns, urban or suburban parts of our state – deserves access to affordable health care, strong public schools, and the chance to get ahead in life.
“We will work with the Governor and Republican legislators on issues where we can find common ground over the next two years. But, if we continue to see Republicans push an agenda that hurts the health care, education, and financial security of working Iowans, we will be fierce in our opposition.”
The new Democratic leadership team consists of these Senators:
Democratic Leader, Senator Janet Petersen, Des Moines
Democratic Whip, Senator Amanda Ragan, Mason City
Assistant Leaders:
Senator Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City
Senator Bill Dotzler, Waterloo
Senator Pam Jochum of Dubuque
Senator Liz Mathis, Hiawatha
Senator Herman Quirmbach, Ames
Senator Rich Taylor, Mount Pleasant
Petersen is in her second term in the Iowa Senate after serving six terms in the Iowa House. She represents Senate District 18 in northwest Des Moines.
In 2008, Petersen founded a nonprofit organization with four other central Iowa women called Healthy Birth Day. The organization, best known for its Count the Kicks campaign, is devoted to preventing stillbirths and improving birth outcomes.
Petersen and her husband Brian Pattinson have three children.
