| Iowa Health Care Providers and Consumer Advocates Call Upon State Leaders to Expand Medicaid Coverage for Iowans |
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| News Releases - Health, Medicine & Nutrition | |||
| Written by Richard Swearinger | |||
| Tuesday, 29 January 2013 14:23 | |||
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DES MOINES — Today 48 of Iowa’s influential health providers, consumer and patient advocates, and faith groups joined together to ask Iowa’s state leaders to expand Medicaid health coverage for hardworking Iowans who make annually make up to 133 percent of federal poverty level, or $25,390 per year for a family of three. The groups supporting expansion include the Iowa Hospital Association, the Iowa Medical Society, AARP, the American Cancer Society CAN, the Iowa Catholic Conference, and the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church. “The Iowa Hospital Association supports Medicaid expansion for the simple reason that insuring more Iowans is good for everyone, whether you provide health care, have your own insurance, own a business or just want Iowa to be a better and more prosperous place,” said Kirk Norris, IHA President and CEO. “IHA is proud to join with nearly 50 other prominent and powerful Iowa groups in calling upon our state leaders to enact Medicaid Expansion under the parameters of the ACA.” Norris explained that while the organizations have not organized as a formal coalition, it is significant that this broad range of diverse organizations have joined together with the common goal of expanding Medicaid in Iowa. He said each group offers a unique perspective on the issue and will continue to implement their own strategy for engaging on Medicaid Expansion. “It is our differences and unique perspectives that make our shared message so powerful, and we hope our state leaders will set aside their differences and come together on this issue that directly affects the health and quality of care of low-income Iowans and the Iowans who provide that care. ” “Iowans expect our leaders to come together on solutions for improving health care in Iowa, and expanding Medicaid is a necessary piece of that puzzle,” said AARP State President, Tony Vola. Vola noted that approximately 17,204 Iowans who are uninsured and would be eligible for Medicaid Expansion are between the ages of 50-64. “Expanding Medicaid will reduce costly emergency visits, and catch and treat at an earlier stage our growing epidemic of chronic disease in Iowa, which becomes a bigger problem as we age. It will help Iowans who’ve lost their jobs or are struggling in jobs without health benefits get access to quality and preventive care so that they can be healthier and more productive,” added Vola. “Increased health care coverage is the gateway to reducing the cancer burden in Iowa,” said John McCalley, Midwest Advocacy Leader for American Cancer Society CAN. “The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network strongly encourages policy makers to accept the federal money to cover more people and save taxpayer dollars by fully expanding Medicaid. Our poll last month showed that 57% of Iowa voters support accepting federal funds already allocated to provide health care coverage by expanding Medicaid, while only 27% thought Iowa should turn it down." “At their core, health care choices are not just political, technical, or economic, but also moral,” said Tom Chapman, Executive Director of the Iowa Catholic Conference. “Good health is a benefit that needs to be defended and guaranteed for all people, not just for those who can afford it.” “The Iowa Catholic Conference supports making health care more readily available and affordable to all Iowans. The expansion of Medicaid is a welcome step in that direction. We look forward to working with legislators as they make important choices on how to strengthen and improve health care in the state,” added Chapman. The following Iowa groups call upon our Iowa state leaders to expand Medicaid to Iowa residents with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level as set forth in the Affordable Care Act, in order to provide and compensate for an efficient and cost effective health care delivery system for low income Iowans who are in need of, but currently lack adequate and accessible health care coverage. Group AARP American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network AFSCME Iowa Council 61 American Heart Association AMOS (A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy) Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa CAFE Iowa CAN CHAIN (Community HVI/Hepatitis Advocates of Iowa Network) Community Health Charities Iowa Communications Workers of America Iowa State Council Easter Seals Iowa Epilepsy Foundation of Iowa Every Child Counts (Child and Family Policy Center Initiative) HCI Care Services (formerly Hospice of Central Iowa) Hospice & Palliative Care Association of Iowa Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans Iowa Alliance in Home Care Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging Iowa Care Givers Association Iowa Catholic Conference Iowa Citizen Action Network (ICAN) Iowa Community Action Association Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Iowa Hospital Association Iowa Human Needs Advocates Iowa Medical Society Iowa Mental Health Planning Council Iowa Nurses Association Iowa Occupational Therapy Association Iowa Olmstead Consumer Task Force Iowa Public Health Association Iowa Primary Care Association Iowa Psychological Association Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council League of Women Voters of Iowa Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Iowa Chapter Mercy Health Network NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Greater Des Moines National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Chapter National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest Chapter Polk County Progressive Action for the Common Good Progress Iowa Results (The Power to End Poverty) South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Visiting Nurse Services of Iowa Contact Anthony Carroll John McCalley Marcia Nichols Stacy Frelund Teresa Bomhoff Geoff Lauer Eileen Fisher Tami Haught Jim Swanstrom Midge Slater Sherri Nielsen Vic Verni Danielle Oswald-Thole Katie McIntyre Rebecca Anthony Midge Slater Greg Boattenhamer Naomi Sea Young Wittstruck Mike Issacson John Hale Tom Chapman Sue Dinsdale Lana Ross Rik Shannon Charlie Wishman Greg Boattenhamer Kelli Soyer Lucinda Stephenson Teresa Bomhoff Pam Deichmann Peggy Parker Geoff Lauer Jeneane Moody Tori Squires Greg Febbraro Dawn Francis Bonnie Pitz Wendy Sontag Sara Eide Teresa Bomhoff Kelli Soyer Dan Johnson Tom Hockensmith Karen Metcalf Matt Sinovic Jos Linn Mark Cooper Mary O’Brien Phone number (515-707-2722) (515-401-8284) (515-246-2654) (515-246-4563) (515-277-0672) (855-444-6443) (319-624-5121) (641-715-4182) (515-243-7207) (515-278-5551) (515-274-1529) (800-221-2689) (515-778-8187) (515-333-4258) (515-283-9316) (515-262-9571) (515-283-9303) (515-974-8908) (319-272-2244) (515-313-7766) (515-243-6256) (515-480-3240) (515-244-0328) (515-689-2870) (515-664-5197) (515-283-9303) (515-277-1117) (515-223-1401) (515-277-0672) (515-462-3277) (515-720-7346) (319-466-7455) (515-491-7804) (515-333-5012) (515-229-2890) (515-282-0275) (641-792-6123) (515-270-6169) (515-556-6883) (515-277-0672) (515-277-1117) (612-335-7930) (515-286-3120) (563-355-0093) (515-423-0530) (515-288-3622) (515-265-1862) (515-802-2240) About AARP AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. About the Iowa Hospital Association The Iowa Hospital Association is a voluntary membership organization representing hospital and health system interests to business, government and consumer audiences. All 118 community hospitals in Iowa, with more than 70,000 employees and a $6.2 billion impact on the state's economy, are IHA members.
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