On March 5, 2008, with a unanimous bi-partisan vote of 19-0, the House Human Resources Committee approved a bill that provides needed health care reforms. House Study Bill 757 is based on the recommendations of the Legislative Commission on Affordable Health Care Plans for Small Businesses and Families, of which I was Co-Chair, and also includes parts of a bill proposed by Governor Chet Culver.

The unanimous vote is significant, since this initiative began in a somewhat contentious and partisan manner. I worked to make this a bi-partisan effort and encouraged my co-legislators to incorporate ideas and input from the minority party. A unanimous vote is the result of both parties working together to improve the health care of all Iowans.

HSB 757 states that it is the intent of the General Assembly that all Iowans will have health care coverage, with the initial priority of providing health care coverage for all children by December 31, 2010. To reach that initial goal, the Department of Human Services (DHS) will work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to expand hawk-i to cover children up to 300% of the federal poverty level.

The bill creates an Electronic Health Information Advisory Council as a public and private effort to promote the adoption and use of health information technology in Iowa. The Advisory Council will make recommendations to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to improve health care quality, increase patient safety, reduce health care costs, enhance public health, and empower individuals and health care professionals with real time medical information.

The legislation requires that insurance companies allow dependent children to be covered on their parents’ policy, up to the age of 25, or so long as the dependent child maintains full-time status as a student in a post-secondary educational institution. In addition, individuals who move from a group insurance policy to an individual insurance policy will not be denied or underwritten due to preexisting conditions.

A Medical Home Advisory Council is established within the IDPH. The purpose of a patient centered medical home is to provide for the coordination and integration of care, focused on prevention, wellness, and chronic care management. In addition, using a patient centered medical home should lower costs and improve quality of care. Providers that are certified patient centered medical homes will receive incentives for their participation.

The Director of the IDPH, in collaboration with the Prevention and Chronic Care Management Advisory Council, is required to develop a state initiative for prevention and chronic care management. The IDPH will establish a grant program to energize local communities to promote healthy lifestyles that will lead collectively, community by community, to a healthier Iowa.

A Medicaid Quality Improvement Council is also established in the bill. The Council will evaluate the clinical outcomes and satisfaction of consumers and providers within Medicaid. Over 10% of Iowans receive health care through Medicaid and we should know if we are getting a quality product for the state dollars invested.

A Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Nutrition is established, consisting of 12 members appointed by the Governor. The Council will assist in implementation of a statewide comprehensive plan to increase physical activity, improve physical fitness, improve nutrition, and promote healthy behaviors.

I hope to amend the Health Care Reform bill by adding a tax credit program for small businesses that have qualified wellness programs in place for their employees. Small businesses are defined as having 100 or fewer employees. The tax credit will be equal to 50% of the cost of the wellness program, up to $300 per year per employee.

It is encouraging to me that we can set aside partisanship and work together to improve the quality of life for all Iowans. I believe that is what most of my constituents expect of me and of all Iowa legislators. The bill will now become a House File (with a new number) and move to the House Calendar to be eligible for debate by the Iowa House. Bi-partisanship does work!

You can write me at the State Capitol, Des Moines, IA 50319; call me at 515/281-7328 or e-mail me at  ro.foege@legis.state.ia.us.

Ro

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