MercyOne South Des Moines Ending Services Thanks to Iowa Republicans’ Vote to Gut Medicaid
DES MOINES – MercyOne South Des Moines announced they will end urgent care and family medicine services on June 26, citing “cuts to Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement” that Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks all voted to pass.
This closure means that patients in the South Des Moines area will be forced to pay more and may need to travel as much as two hours to see a doctor. Iowans are seeing clinic closures and layoffs across the state thanks to Feenstra, Hinson, Nunn, and Miller-Meeks voting to gut health care for 110,000 Iowans and put rural hospitals across the state at high risk of closing their doors.
“Randy Feenstra, Ashley Hinson, Zach Nunn, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks sold out Iowa families and voted for the largest cut to Medicaid in history all to give tax breaks to their wealthiest donors,” said IDP Chair Rita Hart. “Now 110,000 Iowans are at risk of losing their health care, and clinics across our state are on the brink of closing their doors. Feenstra, Hinson, Nunn, and Miller-Meeks need to answer for putting health care, rural hospitals, and jobs on the chopping block this November.”
Iowa Republicans voted for the largest cut to Medicaid in history, and it’s already having devastating impacts:
- In March, MercyOne Clinton Medical Center announced it will end labor and delivery services, forcing Iowans to travel an hour or longer to receive care.
- MercyOne laid off over 100 Iowans in Des Moines and Mason City thanks to federal cuts to Medicaid.
- Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in Fort Madison ended its birthing and delivery services in December.
- Pella Regional Medical Clinic in Ottumwa reduced family practice operations in January.
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