This op-ed is by a state senator from Iowa, a champion for children’s health coverage who has worked closely with our Iowa Finish Line team. Sen. Jack Hatch stresses the importance of maintaining commitment to the vision, covering all kids in Iowa, even when the budget and other factors get in the way. This op-ed is also a great example of a policymaker taking ownership of an issue and using it to show both his leadership and the state’s.
Des Moines Register (Op-Ed) - Passing health care bill continues 'visionary' effort – By State Sen. Jack Hatch – 5.1.09
STATE SEN. JACK HATCH, D-Des Moines, represents District 33 in the Iowa Senate. The district covers central Des Moines and includes the Sherman Hill, Drake, East Village, River Bend and north-side Parks neighborhoods.
During the final day of the 2009 session, the Iowa House and Senate came to a compromise on Senate File 389, the Health Care Reform bill. By passing this bill, we are continuing a three-year effort in the Legislature.
Last year, we committed to making affordable health insurance available to all Iowa children within three years, which earned accolades from national organizations and was called "visionary" by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin. Throughout this year, Gov. Chet Culver and I met to discuss how we could build this success. He is now expected to enthusiastically sign the second health care reform initiative in as many years.
Our most recent accomplishment means 55,000 Iowa children, who were uninsured three years ago, will be guaranteed health care coverage by the end of 2010. As a result of our work, Iowa will have the highest percentage of insured children in the nation - about 99 percent (through private insurance, or Medicaid and Hawk-I).
The final version of SF 389 was less ambitious than the one I filed at the beginning of the session. The Senate-approved bill opened the adult insurance market to more competition. However, the House eliminated that provision, which I believe will allow the health insurance industry to continue charging skyrocketing premiums.
That was a big disappointment and a direct result of the hard lobbying by the opponents of health care reform. However, the revised bill does allow us the opportunity to propose progressive changes in the future.
The House eliminated the "Health Insurance Exchange" and replaced it with a Health Care Reform Commission of nine members. To ensure balance and fairness, the Senate added more consumers to the commission. The commission will develop strategies and report back to the Legislature on how to make health care coverage available for the remaining 250,000 adults who don't have health insurance; coordinate all the children's health care programs into a seamless system; make the transition between public and private health care coverage more viable; cover non-state public employees (including city, county, public school, community college, employees of small businesses and non-profit organizations; and design health care plans that are affordable (no more than 6.5 percent of family income).
Other provisions of our legislation will create partnerships between hospitals and medical schools to reverse shortages of nurses, doctors, mental health professionals and other medical workers, and allow the state to provide medical liability insurance for a medical specialist to see uninsured patients in their offices on pro bono assignments.
By solving health care problems that have troubled us for years, we can improve the lives of Iowa families and strengthen our state's economy