Senate expands health coverage for kids

DES MOINES - The Iowa Senate voted 30-18 Thursday to approve an $8 million health care package intended to expand insurance coverage to all Iowa children by the end of 2010.

Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, said Senate File 389 will allow another 30,000 children to be covered under the state's health care programs.

"Iowa already does a pretty good job in health care reform, compared to other states, but we can still do more," he said.

The legislation sets up an Iowa Choice Insurance Exchange, which will design a coverage health coverage plan for children over 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $64,000 annually for a family of four, who are not eligible for the state's HAWK-I or Medicaid programs. The comprehensive approach also would include adults and families at less than 400 percent of the federal poverty level using private-sector health care plans.

Republicans, who were joined by Democratic Sens. Swati Dandekar of Marion and Rich Olive of Story City in opposing the measure, said they were concerned it would fall to private insurers and taxpayers to cover the cost of any shortfalls that the newly formed exchange might incur.

"Senate Republicans believe that we must work to make health care accessible and affordable; however, health care controlled by bureaucrats is not the solution," said Senate GOP Leader Paul McKinley of Chariton.

"I am sure this bold liberal agenda will be ‘sold' under the guise of helping the children but, instead, we are undermining the very market-based principles that have created the best and most widely accessible health care in the world," he said.

GOP minority members like Sen. David Hartsuch, R-Bettendorf, characterized the measure as a first step toward "socialized medicine" in Iowa - a premise majority Democrats rejected as worn-out "silly talk" at a time when reform is needed to fix a health care system plagued by costs that are spiraling out of control.

"I think this is a positive step," said Sen. Joe Bolkcom, D-Iowa City. "I wish it were more."

Other features of the legislation propose to ban gifts to doctors from pharmaceutical companies and reverse Iowa's shortage of nurses and doctors. S.F. 389 also further pursues efforts to allow small business, non profits, cities and counties, schools and community colleges to buy into the state's health care plan in hopes of lowering health insurance costs through pooling.

The bill now goes to the House, where it could face revisions.

Contact the writer: (515) 243-7220 or rod.boshart@gazcomm.com