Iowa Senate takes another step toward ensuring accessible, affordable health care

On March 1, the Iowa Senate approved the next step in state efforts to make health care more affordable and accessible to all Iowans.

The 2010 Health Care Reform Bill continues our state’s bipartisan efforts to:

** Reduce costs to make health care affordable for all Iowans.

** Protect Iowans’ choice of doctors, hospitals and insurance plans.

** Ensure quality affordable health care is available to more Iowans.

The legislation:

** Creates a Regional Provider Network so more Iowans in need can receive primary care closer to home.

** Establishes an Iowa Choice Exchange, an information clearinghouse that makes it easier for individuals and small business employees to compare insurance plans using transparent, standardized information that includes data on quality.

** Helps rural hospitals by requiring that they finally be reimbursed for emergency services and other uncompensated care when the IowaCare program is expanded. Ultimately, this will protect health care facilities and jobs in rural communities.

** Establishes guidelines for using potential federal health care funding.

Senate File 2356, which passed on a bipartisan vote of 45 to 5, is based on recommendations approved unanimously by the Legislative Health Care Coverage Commission. The bill has the support of the Iowa Medical Society, the Iowa Hospital Association, AARP, the American Cancer Society, the Iowa Children and Family Policy Center, organized labor and the Visiting Nurses Association.