The Senate

State of Iowa
Eighty-sixth General Assembly
STATEHOUSE
Des Moines, IA 50319

January 24, 2018

James Golden
Director, Division of Managed Care Plans
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
7500 Security Blvd.
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850.

Dear Jim,

During our conference call January 3, 2018, we discussed the numerous concerns that many Iowans have about Iowa’s
privatized Medicaid system.

During that call, we invited CMS officials to do a field visit to Iowa so that you can learn first-hand about the problems that
providers and Medicaid beneficiaries continue to experience. You said you would take that under consideration but
needed data to make the decision to come to Iowa.

We have heard from several provider associations that have presented some very alarming information. Those data are
attached. We are approaching a crisis with many providers just barely hanging on. We will not have adequate provider
networks and we will not deliver adequate access to care if we allow these problems to continue.

Hospitals, nursing homes and other Iowa health care providers – especially in Iowa’s small towns and rural areas – are
telling us it's not working. They are strapped with delayed or reduced payments, red tape and bureaucratic nightmares
that are putting them in financial jeopardy.

In terms of service not met, we are also including two recent articles from the Des Moines Register that pertain to
member/patient issues. These articles point out the failure to meet the needs of Iowa’s most complex cases.

http://features.desmoinesregister.com/news/medicaid-denials/

http://features.desmoinesregister.com/news/medicaid-denials/timeline.php

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2018/01/16/privatizing-iowa-medicaid-has-
privatized-public-information/1036718001/
We implore you to come to Iowa and listen to Iowa providers and members to get a better picture of how
privatized Medicaid is affecting Iowans.

Sincerely,

Signed:
Senators
Liz Mathis Rita Hart
Amanda Ragan Rob Hogg
Pam Jochum Wally Horn
Chaz Allen Kevin Kinney
Tony Bisagnano Jim Lykam
Joe Bolkcom Matt McCoy
Nate Boulton Janet Petersen
Tod Bowman Herman Quirmbach
Jeff Danielson Rich Taylor
Bill Dotzler
Bob Dvorsky David Johnson

cc: Debbie Anderson

Jeff Kahrs
Kit Wager
Alissa DeBoy
Jennifer Snow
Greg Hunt