The Republicans in the IOWA Senate have passed a legislative template according to which Iowans have to work at least 80 hours a month to qualify for the services for medicaid and additional nutritional aid. Legislation includes exceptions for certain groups such as nurses for children under the age of 6, disabled people, those who are medically frail or medically excluded, pregnant women with high risk, people under 19 or over 65, those who receive unemployment benefits, and participants in drug abuse programs. Mike Klimesh, a Republican from Spillville and the Floor's manager of the draft law, emphasized the intention behind the legislation and argued during a debate: “By providing work, we provide an important springboard to help develop, build up responsibility and to gain a feeling.” “Usually it is a multifaceted problem. It is never one thing that prevents it from maintaining employment,” said Nolan Vitzthum, a licensed independent social worker in Humboldt County. Vitzthum works with many customers who rely on Medicaid. She emphasized the importance of access to health insurance and explained: “In order to stay healthy and able, Iowan's access to health insurance must need.” The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services directs the legislative template in order to maintain a federal waiver in order to implement the work requirements. If the federal government refuses to do without, the state would have to replace the Iowa Health and Wellnes Plan with an alternative that would also require the federal consent. The legislation is now faced with a change in the house, which is to be discussed on Wednesday. If the change is adopted, the legislation will return to the Senate to receive approval before going to the governor's desk. »Subscribe to the YouTube page of KCCI» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
The Republicans in the IOWA Senate have passed a legislative template according to which Iowans have to work at least 80 hours a month to qualify for the services for medicaid and additional nutritional aid.
Legislation includes exceptions for certain groups such as nurses for children under the age of 6, disabled people, those who are medically frail or medically excluded, pregnant women with high risk, people under 19 or over 65, those who receive unemployment benefits, and participants in drug abuse treatment programs.
Senator Mike Klimesh, a Republican from Spillville and the Floor Manager of the Draft Act, emphasized the intention behind legislation and argued during a debate, “By asking for work, we offer an important stepping board to help develop life skills, get responsibility and to recover a sense of the purpose.”
An analysis of the impartial legislative Services Agency estimates that approximately 32,000 Iowans could lose cover from 2026 if the draft law becomes a law.
“Usually it is a multifaceted problem. It is never one thing that prevents it from maintaining employment,” said Nolan Vitzthum, a licensed independent social worker in Humboldt County.
Vitzthum works with many customers who rely on Medicaid. She emphasized the importance of access to health insurance and explained: “In order to stay healthy and able, Iowan's access to health insurance must need.”
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services directs the legislation to seek a federal waiver to implement the work requirements. If the Federal Government refuses the waiver, the state would have to replace the Iowa Health and Wellnes Plan with an alternative that would also require the approval of the federal government.
The legislative template is now exposed to a change in the house, which is to be discussed on Wednesday. If the change is adopted, the legislation will return to the Senate for approval before going to the governor's desk.
» Subscribe to the YouTube page of KCCI
»Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play