Fred Hubbell, Democratic candidate for governor, released the following statement after the announcement of AmeriHealth’s departure from Governor Kim Reynolds’ privatized Medicaid system. AmeriHealth’s withdrawal, coupled with today’s announcement that Gov. Reynolds will cut Medicaid services to an estimated 40,000 Iowans, demonstrates that Gov. Reynolds’ Medicaid privatization experiment has been a complete failure and thousands of Iowans are suffering because of it:
“Governor Reynolds was quick to blame everyone but herself when she withdrew her own stopgap proposal, essentially giving up on Iowans who will now go without coverage. Now her own privatized Medicaid system is collapsing under her mismanagement, and she must face the people of Iowa and take ownership for her failure,” said Fred Hubbell. “Reynolds’ dream Medicaid system has turned into Iowans' nightmare. Under her privatization of Medicaid, thousands of Iowans have already suffered from reduced and refused services. Now, even managed care organizations — for-profit groups that Republicans designed to be the ‘winners’ under privatization — are fleeing from the system’s failure. As governor, I will work to immediately reverse the privatization of Medicaid, and ensure that every Iowan has reliable, affordable access to high quality health care.”
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About Fred:
A lifelong progressive and fifth-generation Iowan, Fred Hubbell is a proven leader with the experience to get results and get Iowa moving in the right direction. A leader who knows how to balance a budget, Fred holds vast experience in both the public and private sector, where he successfully ran several large companies like Younkers Department Chain and Equitable of Iowa. Additionally, Fred was twice called to public service, first, by then Governor Culver in 2007 to lead the Iowa Power Fund, helping Iowa invest and become a leader in renewable energy, and secondly, in 2009, to help clean up the Iowa Department of Economic Development following a disastrous film tax scandal. Throughout his career, Fred has also been a tireless progressive advocate. As the former chair of Planned Parenthood of Mid-Iowa, he fought to protect and expand a woman's right to quality health care. Serving on the Iowa College Foundation Board and Simpson College Board, Fred has worked to expand higher education opportunities to more Iowans. And with his service on the Mercy Hospital Medical Board and work with Broadlawns Medical Center, he has fought to ensure that those Iowans in need get the quality, affordable, and accessible health care they deserve. He currently resides in Des Moines, with his wife Charlotte, and has three children and three grandchildren.
For news and updates from the campaign trail, please follow @FredHubbell on Twitter and like his page on Facebook. More information can also be found at FredHubbell.com.
