AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa and Genesis Health System Sign Provider Contract to Serve Iowa's Medicaid Population

Des Moines, Iowa – AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa, a Medicaid managed care health plan that will serve Iowa Medicaid beneficiaries as part of the state's new IA Health Link program beginning January 2016, and Genesis Health System, a premier health system serving a 12-county, bi-state region of the Quad cities metropolitan area and the surrounding communities of Iowa and Illinois, announced today that they have signed an agreement that will give AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa's members access to one of the nation's top 100 health systems.

As one of the region's largest and most comprehensive health networks, Genesis Health System has more than 100 locations, including six hospitals, three convenient care locations, 32 Genesis Health Group sites, 15 physical rehabilitation clinics, and multiple outpatient service centers. Genesis Health System and its affiliates provide compassionate, quality health services to all those in need through a full continuum of care including home health and nursing home care, hospice, rehabilitation, long-term care and the Genesis Cancer Care Institute.

"We are excited that Genesis Health System has joined our provider network," said AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa Market President Cheryl Harding. "For more than 30 years, our family of companies has specialized in helping individuals who are most in need to access quality health care and services. We know that Genesis shares our commitment to removing barriers to care and services and to creating an even healthier Iowa. Our providers are the backbone of our programs, and as our partners, they are a critical component to our ability to improve the overall health and wellness of individuals, families and communities in Iowa."

AmeriHealth Caritas has successfully implemented Medicaid managed care plans throughout the country based on an integrated model of care, which includes physical and behavioral health, pharmacy benefit management and specialty pharmacy. AmeriHealth Caritas' unique model of care, along with more than 30 years of experience caring for populations with complex health conditions, affirms AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa as well-prepared to serve the individuals who will participate in the IA Health Link program.

AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa is part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, a national leader in Medicaid managed care and other integrated health care solutions for those most in need.

"We are pleased to announce this agreement because of what it means to our patients,'' said Doug Cropper, president and CEO, Genesis Health System. "Our goal was to create minimal disruption in care for our patients who have Medicaid benefits.  AmeriHealth Caritas is a trusted national leader in solutions for some of the most vulnerable patients served by healthcare providers.''

AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa and Optimae Sign Provider Contract

Des Moines, Iowa – AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa, a Medicaid managed care health plan that will serve Iowa Medicaid beneficiaries as part of the state's new IA Health Link program beginning January 2016, and Optimae Life Services , a provider of health and human services for individuals with disabilities and mental illness in 28 Southeastern and Central Iowa counties, announced today that they have signed a contract to care for Optimae's clients who are covered by Medicaid. Through this arrangement, AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa's members in Southern, Central and Eastern Iowa with mental health and/or intellectual challenges will have access to Optimae's community support, home health, mental health and supportive employment services.

"Our providers are our partners, and we are pleased to partner with Optimae to meet the mental, home and behavioral health needs of our members," said Cheryl Harding, market president for AmeriHealth Caritas Iowa. "Optimae's reputation in Southern, Central and Eastern Iowa is well known. Collaborating with organizations like Optimae is a critical piece of our efforts to treat the whole person."

"Many of our customers are covered by Medicaid, and they will be in good hands with AmeriHealth Caritas," said William Dodds, president of Optimae. "AmeriHealth Caritas' expertise in managing Medicaid recipients' physical and mental health needs will benefit our clients and their families."

The new IA Health Link program will serve the majority of Iowa's Medicaid population, or about 600,000 Iowans, through select managed care plans. For more information about the IA Health Link program, visit: http://dhs.iowa.gov/.

(DES MOINES) - Governor Terry E. Branstad today announced appointments to Iowa's boards and commissions.

The following individuals' appointments are effective Dec. 8, 2015, and are subject to Iowa Senate confirmation:

Commission on Tobacco Use Prevention and Control

George Belitsos, Ames

The following individuals' appointments are effective Dec. 8, 2015, and are NOT subject to Iowa Senate confirmation:

Armory Board

Chad Stone, Des Moines

Iowa Council for Early ACCESS

Dr. Ryan Allen, Sioux City

Stephanie Peters, Des Moines

Patrick Judkins, Long Grove

Juvenile Justice Advisory Council

Trevor Lynn, Brighton

Vocational Rehabilitation Council

Brian Dennis, Des Moines

By Randy Olson

There is no doubt that the terrible events of Spring 2015, when Iowa's egg farming community faced one of the most devastating times in our history with the multi-state avian influenza (AI) outbreak, will not soon be forgotten. Through this time, however, our egg farmers never lost their resolve to recover or their intent to restore full production of safe, high-quality eggs for millions of consumers across the nation.

AI moved rapidly through Iowa's egg and poultry farms, and all told, more than 40 percent of the Hawkeye state's egg-laying flocks succumbed to the disease over the course of the next two months. For Iowa, the number-one egg producing state in the nation, the loss of more than 30 million hens and pullets was economically disastrous.

What was even more difficult, however, was the emotional toll it took on the egg industry overall, and especially those farmers who lost their flocks. For many of them, it was the first time they had directly experienced such a situation, and then had to face daunting decisions about how to maintain the jobs of their employees, protect other flocks from AI, collaborate with state and federal regulatory officials, and manage the disease's extensive cleanup process.

While farmers may not forget the negative impact of the disease, they will remember a ray of hope that emerged during this time. As soon as AI hit our state, the immediate outpouring of support, volunteerism and prayers farmers received from our state leaders and from their local communities began.  On behalf of Iowa's egg farmers, our sincere appreciation and gratitude to all Iowans for reminding us of the reasons to move forward after this crisis. You stood with the egg farming community, and it was appreciated.

The recent announcement that the last control zones from the spring AI outbreak have been lifted, freeing up the last of the state's poultry farms for repopulation, is welcome news and underscores the strength of our industry and the combined response. Affected egg farmers have been making good progress toward repopulating their farms and resuming egg production - by working tirelessly to swiftly and fully restore their farms to pre-AI levels.

At the same time, Iowa's egg farmers have embraced what for them is a new culture of pervasive biosecurity. Indeed, disease prevention has never been more important, and farmers across the state are focused on expanded biosecurity measures on their farms to help prevent any recurrence of AI.

While AI created some early disruption in the egg market and restoring the industry fully will take time, Iowa's egg farmers are following a responsible, but aggressive, timeline toward repopulation. They are doing so in full cooperation with USDA, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and other stakeholders.

Iowans should be confident that there will be a steady supply of nutritious, high-quality eggs for the holiday season and into 2016. That is the job of Iowa's egg farmers - producing eggs that are safe and wholesome, as well as being among the best food values for quality protein and nutrients.

Looking ahead, the future for Iowa's egg farming community is solid. While there have been fundamental changes in egg farm operations and on-farm disease prevention, some things have not changed for generations of egg farm families -  an absolute and firm commitment to being excellent caretakers of their flocks, strong and engaged members of their communities, and good stewards of the land, air and water around their farms.

The lessons of the AI outbreak have given egg farmers a newfound appreciation for their farms, their employees, their families and their neighbors. Again, there is little more we can say on behalf of Iowa's egg industry, but our most sincere thank you.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee (RLCC) congratulates Tom Moore on his special election victory in Iowa State House District 21. Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) President Matt Walter issued the following statement on behalf of the RLCC:

"As a former educator and active school board member, Tom Moore has spent his entire life giving back to his community, and I have no doubt that his years of experience will be an invaluable asset to the Iowa legislature. His victory allows House Republicans to strengthen their majority?proving yet again that Republicans win by running qualified and experienced candidates who connect with voters, even in states twice carried by President Obama. Continued victories in Iowa build momentum in the right direction for Republicans when the state Senate is a top target to flip in 2016. Today, I congratulate RLCC Chairman and Iowa Speaker Kraig Paulsen on adding a new member to the state House chamber, and I am excited to see what the chamber will accomplish going forward."

About the RLCC

The Republican Legislative Campaign Committee (RLCC) is the only national organization dedicated exclusively to electing more Republicans to state legislatures. The RLCC's primary mission is gaining Republican control of more state legislative chambers by targeting national resources to support winnable local races. Since its formation in 2003, the RLCC has assisted in bringing successes to numerous legislative chambers, and winning historic majorities in states nationwide.  In the 2013-2014 cycle, the RLCC picked up ten new legislative chambers leading to an all-time historic high of 69 Republican chambers held. The RLCC provides financial support, leadership development and strategic assistance to state legislatures, ensuring that candidates are equipped with the necessary tools to run effective and efficient campaigns, including organized campaign training schools in key states across the country.

About the RSLC

The Republican State Leadership Committee (RSLC) is the largest caucus of Republican state leaders in the country and the only national organization whose mission is to elect down-ballot, state-level Republican officeholders.  Since 2002, the RSLC has been working to elect candidates to the offices of lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state legislator, the judiciary and other down-ticket races.  The RSLC has more than 150,000 donors in all 50 states. During the 2013-2014 election cycle, the RSLC was active in all 50 states and picked up ten new state legislative chambers, leading to an all-time historic high of 69 chambers controlled by Republicans.  Following the 2015 elections, Republicans now hold 32 total Republican lieutenant governor seats, along with a Republican majority of secretaries of state, now at 27. The RSLC successfully expanded the Future Majority Project and Right Women, Right Now initiatives, spending more than $6 million in direct support of Republican candidates of diverse descent and women, leading to the election of 164 new candidates. Last cycle, the RSLC also launched the Judicial Fairness Initiative and the new top-level domain for the Republican Party, '.gop.' To learn more about the RSLC, please visit www.rslc.gop or follow @RSLC on Twitter.