Wilhelm praises Iowa Senate for passing Medicaid expansion

State Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm of Cresco is praising the Iowa Senate, which passed an expansion of Medicaid to another 150,000 Iowans.  Wilhelm called the legislation "the right thing for the people of Iowa."

She added, "This is a smart, fiscally responsible approach for the state budget, saving Iowa up to at least $136 million next year. For the first three years, expanded Medicaid will be paid for by the federal government. After that, the state's share slowly increases until 2020, at which point Iowa will pay 10 percent of the total cost."

The bill would extend Medicaid to 150,000 low-income Iowans; would shrink Iowa's $1 billion annual bill for unpaid medical care; and would focus on ways to improve health outcomes to boost patients' quality of life and lower long-term health costs.