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Senator Truong, Garriott calls 10 years of Medicaid privatization a "failed experiment"
Summary
On the Senate floor Senator Truong, Garriott marked the 10th anniversary of Medicaid privatization, saying state Medicaid costs have tripled, denials have risen sharply and waiver waiting lists are multiple years long; he urged accountability and an exit strategy.
Senator Truong, Garriott used a personal point on the Senate floor to mark the 10th anniversary of Medicaid privatization and urged colleagues to seek accountability for program performance.
"The cost of Medicaid to Iowa taxpayers has tripled," he said, and he cited a state auditor report that showed a "nearly 900% increase in illegal denials or violations." He said the change to for-profit managed care has increased administrative burden on providers, forcing hospitals, clinics, therapists and nursing homes to take on lines of credit and hire additional staff to navigate denials and payment delays.
Truong, Garriott said waiver programs for people with significant disabilities have waiting lists that span multiple years and warned that federal Medicaid cuts the state anticipates could reduce funding by nearly $1,000,000,000 a year. He concluded by saying the state needs an "exit strategy for what is rapidly becoming a failed experiment."
