Letter: Medicaid changes creates divisiveness

Gov. Terry Branstad says three outside management companies can provide better and more diversified care for 560,000 Medicaid patients while cutting program costs for the state, saving the state $51 million in six months and still make a nice profit for them.

Folks, that doesn't pass the common sense test. If you believe his plan will work, I have 10,000 bushels of No. 2 corn stored in an elevator I'd like to sell to you. I assume these companies are going to do this by implementing a different management model than is now being used. That is the only way they can do it without diminishing the quality/quantity of service.

Here is my question. Don't the current administrators of these services have the skills necessary to implement this management model? If not, why not? We would not be asking them to learn how to do brain surgery just upgrade their administrative skills. Then all the profits these three companies are going to make plus the $51 million savings would be kept in Iowa. Plus, jobs would be preserved and no doubt more might be created. Branstad wouldn't have to give away millions of tax dollars to create those jobs. He could be creative in a positive way, bringing the people of Iowa together behind a project rather than creating another divisive hubbub. It is a win-win for everyone.

Tom Martin

Iowa City