Iowa left behind in Medicare reimbursement

One of the biggest issues facing Iowa's health care system is abysmal Medicare reimbursement. At the same time, Reps. Bruce Braley, Leonard Boswell and Dave Loebsack recently supported an amendment to H.R. 4213 that included a provision increasing Medicare payments for rural doctors in California.

This decision amounts to a $300 million increase in Medicare reimbursements for these providers over the next five years. They gave California providers more money while Iowa's providers continue to rank at the bottom of Medicare payment levels.

As part of the federal health care bill, Congress created a special Medicare deal specifically for Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming. These states will see their rates raised to the national average. While we should be upset that Iowa was left behind, we should be more upset that sweeping reform never will happen if special handouts keep going to individual states while health care costs continue to rise.

Words cannot convey our disappointment in Braley, Boswell and Loebsack's votes in favor of these backroom deals. They agree to special deals for other states, while Iowa providers continue to sit and wait – hoping they can keep practicing in rural Iowa.

Rep. Linda Upmeyer

Garner

Iowa House minority whip

Nurse practitioner

Rep. Linda Miller

Bettendorf

Iowa House Human Services Committee, Ranking member

Registered nurse