What Iowans Are Watching: Zach Lahn Called Out for Attacking Access to Health Care
DES MOINES – On Wednesday, ahead of the 61st anniversary of Medicaid being signed into law, Iowans impacted by health care cuts gathered to hold Zach Lahn accountable for attacking access to health care and having no plan to fix Iowa’s health care crisis.
According to a new report from KFF News, Lahn supports Washington’s cuts to Medicaid that threaten health care for 110,000 Iowans and closed rural clinics, and would continue Kim Reynolds’ privatized Medicaid disaster as governor. Lahn has spent his career trying to block people from getting health insurance and spearheaded a campaign to block Medicaid expansion in Montana, which would have kicked tens of thousands of people off their insurance.
What Iowans are watching about Zach Lahn’s record of attacking access to health care:
KCAU: Iowa Democrats target Zach Lahn on health care
- The Iowa Democratic Party marked the upcoming 61st anniversary of Medicaid by criticizing Republican Gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn’s health care record.
- According to Siouxland Mental Health provider Sheri Porter, low Medicaid reimbursement rates are leaving many patients in northwest Iowa without access to routine dental care.
- “Our members here in Sioux City currently have no provider for basic dental care: A cleaning, a fixing, anything,” said Porter. “And we can’t afford to let Lahn, who opposes Medicaid expansion, and he can’t be trusted to protect the Iowans’ healthcare.”
KCRG: Iowans with disabilities say Medicaid is now failing them, 61 years after program became law
- The Iowa Democratic Party held an event Wednesday to mark the anniversary, arguing the state’s privatized system is harming Iowans. Republican lawmakers passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, which reduces funding for the program over the next 10 years and makes changes to work requirements.
- Iowa is also facing an over $90 million Medicaid funding deficit. Lawmakers temporarily raised taxes on HMOs to help close the gap, but Porter said it is not enough.
- Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said if elected, he would end Iowa’s privatized Medicaid system on day one.
KCCI: Privatized Medicaid system under scrutiny
- 61 years after Medicaid became law, Iowans with disabilities say the program is failing to provide critical care.
- At an event organized by the Iowa Democratic Party, advocates blamed Iowa’s privatized system and low reimbursement rates.
- Medicaid is a top issue ahead of the midterm elections.
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