News Details

Wednesday, September 19, 2007                                            

For More Information:

Rep. Tyler Olson, (319) 365-1840

HEALTH CARE COMMISSION CONTINUES WORK; GATHERS INPUT FROM IOWANS

Des Moines, Iowa – The Commission on Affordable Health Care Plans for Small Businesses and Families continues their work this fall gathering information from Iowans online and through public hearings.  The commission was created last session to find ways make recommendations on the affordability of health care for Iowans and expanding coverage.

“High health care costs are a burden on Iowa families and businesses.  As the commission continues to work this fall, I strongly encourage Iowans to engage in this discussion and help us find workable solutions that will benefit all Iowans,” said State Representative Tyler Olson of Cedar Rapids. 

Iowans can participate by filling out an on-line healthcare survey or attending a public hearing in Bettendorf on September 27 and Indianola on September 26.  Commission meetings are also scheduled for Dubuque, Sioux City and Des Moines. For more information on the hearings or to fill out the survey, go to www.legis.state.ia.us.

Olson also said citizens can contact him with their ideas and suggestions, which will be forwarded on to the commission.  Olson can be reached by phone at (319) 365-1840 and email at tyler.olson@legis.state.ia.us.

Last June, a private foundation that studies health care issues gave Iowa straight “A’s” across the board on its healthcare scorecard.  However, this good news is tempered by the fact that some 270,000 Iowans, including about 50,000 children, do not have health insurance. Last session, the Legislature expanded health care coverage to 17,000 more Iowans, including 10,000 children in the Hawk-I program. 

In August, the Health Care Commission met and adopted eight guiding principles:

§         Coverage & Care should be universal or near universal.

§         Coverage should be affordable & take into account all health care costs. 

§         Everyone should have a medical home.

§         Health care should be accessible.

§         Financing should be a shared responsibility. 

§         Reforms should drive quality improvements and contain costs.

§         Reforms should do no harm. 

§         Reforms must be sustainable and doable. 

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