Reynolds’ For-Profit Private Medicaid Scheme is Failing Iowa.

There’s no excuse for Governor Reynolds to still be standing behind the failed ReynoldsCare Medicaid system. This week, the Iowa Democratic Party is throwing it back to when two of the state’s major newspapers called on the Governor to put aside partisan politics and fix a system that’s failing Iowans

“It’s clear that Iowans are getting crushed by ReynoldsCare, but Governor Reynolds won’t even acknowledge the extent of the problem,” said Iowa Democratic Party Spokesperson Tess Seger. “By continuing to deny the ReynoldsCare disaster, Governor Reynolds is putting politics ahead of the people of Iowa. Yet again, we see her misplaced priorities harming Iowa families.”

WATERLOO FALLS COURIER: Editorial: Iowa must right Medicaid ship

“Iowa’s switch from a well-run state program to privatization was the brainchild of former Gov. Terry Branstad — without legislative input — in December 2015. He cited undocumented savings of $51 million in the first six months, $110 million the first year and $232 million the next — fanciful then and now.”

“Now the DHS has given the Medicaid reins to Michael Randol, formerly head of KanCare, Kansas’ privatized Medicaid program, which the Obama administration determined was ‘substantially out of compliance.’ ”

“That doesn’t inspire confidence in Randol, aside from Kansas’ mind-boggling governmental incompetence.

With Gov. Kim Reynolds predicting, “We are anticipating another tough budget year,” it will be imperative for privatization supporters to right the Medicaid ship as soon as possible.”

DES MOINES REGISTER: Editorial: Medicaid managed care gone wild; DHS must slay the beast

“It’s official. The for-profit insurers contracted to manage Iowa’s Medicaid program can do anything. They are calling the shots while the Iowa Department of Human Services appears to have lost control over the $4 billion program it is supposed to oversee. 

Isn’t DHS director Jerry Foxhoven tired of scrambling to cobble together “fixes” in response to the demands and whims of private insurers? 

Iowans are sure tired of it.”

“Welcome to “modernized” Medicaid, Iowa. 

Foisted on 600,000 people by a governor who now lives in China, privatization has delivered daily uncertainty for the vulnerable and forced state workers to pluck ideas from thin air to accommodate private insurance companies pocketing millions of precious public health dollars for administration. 

Who knows what change DHS will announce tomorrow or next week. 

What is known: Patients have lost access to care. Health providers stiffed by for-profit insurers have closed their doors. Taxpayers are funding everything, including the postage on hundreds of thousands of mailings to try to keep Iowans apprised of never-ending changes. And even top state officials seem unaware of what the future holds. 

Gov. Kim Reynolds can put an end to the madness. So can DHS director Foxhoven. So can the federal government. So can voters.”