Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Iowa agency reduces Medicaid oversight requirements in bill

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa health agency is proposing to roll back requirements in its oversight of the state's privatized Medicaid program, a move that comes amid growing public scrutiny over the department's plans to improve the program.

The Department of Human Services requested a bill be filed last week in the Legislature that would reduce how often it must report performance data on the health care program for the poor and disabled. The legislation would also remove some consumer protection metrics and eliminate a requirement that the agency report its expected savings under the privatized system.

The department insisted the bill will not worsen transparency and is aimed at more flexibility in presenting data to the public.

The wide-ranging proposal surprised lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, who worked to enact oversight provisions in 2016 when the program was turned over to private insurance companies.

All contents © copyright 2018 Associated Press. All rights reserved.