Iowa Voters Guided By Big Health Care Changes

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Much of the debate in Iowa has centered around the Republican push to privatize Medicaid, the state-federal program that helps provide health care coverage for the poor. Privatization was passed in 2016 by the state's then-governor, Republican Terry Branstad, on a promise that it would save taxpayers money.

But across the state, there's disagreement over whether privatization has worked. Hospitals, nursing homes and other providers caring for the state's more than 615,000 Medicaid patients say denials and delays have left them strapped.

More changes could be on the way. On Thursday, the Trump administration announced a plan that would allow states to place caps on Medicaid spending.

Even before the announcement, there have been fears across Iowa that rural hospitals' dire financial situations could cause them to close. One recent analysis found that nearly 18% of rural hospitals in Iowa are at a high risk of closing unless their financial situations improve.

https://www.npr.org/2020/01/31/800975243/as-caucus-day-nears-iowa-voters-guided-by-big-health-care-changes