Privatizing Medicaid threatens health care

To the editor:

You, me, and almost every Iowan know at least one person who depends on Medicaid. After all, nearly 1 out of 6 Iowans receive care from one of our state's 42,000 Medicaid providers.

There are good reasons to think that Medicaid privatization threatens critical health care services for vulnerable Iowans. That's why there is so much opposition to the Republican rush to privatize Medicaid by Jan. 1.

Unfortunately, Gov. Terry Branstad refuses to listen. The needs of Iowans come second to his 'my way or the highway” approach to leadership.

Iowa's Republican legislators are now on the spot. Their constituents keep calling, begging them to think twice before turning Iowa's health care system over to four Wall Street companies.

Those calls are making a difference. Don't hesitate to contact your legislators. It will save lives.

State Sen. Joe Bolkcom