Taylor Statehouse Update: House Passes Bill to Provide 69,000 Iowans with Health Care

On April 30^th the House debated a proposal called the “Healthy Iowa Plan.” The bill was introduced by Governor Branstad as an alternative to Medicaid expansion. This legislation will cover people below 100% of the federal poverty level with a benefit plan similar to the state employee benefit package.

Below are some highlights of the bill:

The purpose of the Healthy Iowa Plan is to establish and administer a plan to promote increased access to health care, quality health outcomes, and the use of personal responsibility measures that encourage people with incomes below 100% of the federal poverty level to be cost-conscious consumers of health care and to participate in healthy behaviors. The plan would also create “my health rewards accounts,” which would be used for payment of required contributions, cost sharing, and health improvements by members. Members would be offered cost incentives for their plans if they completed various things such as efforts to quit smoking or nutrition counseling. 

People ages 19-64 will be eligible for the Healthy Iowa plan benefits if they meet the following criteria: the person is a U.S. citizen or alien, the person is a resident of Iowa, the person has a social security number, and the person has a household income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level. The following people are not eligible for the Healthy Iowa Plan: a person eligible for Medicaid, a person receiving Medicare, and a person who is pregnant and eligible for Medicaid.

Benefits under the plan include but are not limited to: preventative care services, health home services, physician services, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, emergency transportation services, prescription drugs, diagnostic services, durable medical equipment and medical supplies, rehabilitative services (including therapy), home health services, and mental health and substance use disorder services.

I am proud to support this plan because it is a plan run by Iowans, legislated by Iowans and serving Iowans. It has been a pleasure serving House District 44 and the people of Iowa this year. We still have many things yet to accomplish. Your continued feedback, suggestions and support are always appreciated. Please keep them coming. Feel free to contact me at any time.

Representative Rob Taylor 

House District 44

(515) 240-7019

Rob.taylor@legis.iowa.gov