Gov. Branstad says conflicting court rulings adding to health care uncertainty

ALTOONA – Gov. Terry Branstad said Wednesday Iowans are caught in a wait-and-see dilemma due to court rulings that have heaped more uncertainty on a federal Obamacare health system that has been beset with challenges.

During a stop at the Iowa Association of Health Underwriters Annual Healthcare Symposium, Branstad said it did not appear there would be a direct impact on Iowans who receive taxpayers via Iowa's hybrid insurance exchange that partners with the federal government. But that may be subject to change depending on the outcome of contradictory court decisions which have placed some plans in doubt.

'You've got two rulings and they're in conflict with each other, so I think it just creates more uncertainty,” the governor told reporters after his symposium speech.

'We're trying to do as best we can to protect the people of Iowa and make sure we've got a system that encourages people to take ownership of their own health and partners with them to provide a system that delivers health care and focuses on quality care delivered to people of all incomes throughout the state,” he added.

Branstad said he is willing to consider all options in providing a workable health insurance approach, including the possibility of a multi-state exchange. The Iowa governor said other states have launched their own systems with costly and disastrous results and he doubts Iowa lawmakers want to pursue a state-run exchange.

'I think we'll have to wait until the next legislative session,” he said. 'I know that in the past the Legislature was not interested in embarking on a state exchange because they saw it being a very expensive proposition.”

Branstad told symposium participants that Iowa came up with a bipartisan way to use federal money to expand health-care coverage to needy Iowans by financing insurance premiums for participants who help manage their costs with healthy choices. Currently, 109,000 Iowans have signed up for the Iowa Health and Wellness Plan.

The governor said Iowa's improving economic position compared to other states had the effect of penalizing Iowa under the federal Medicaid reimbursement formula that boosted Iowa's matching contribution by $86 million. He expects the state will taken another $40 million hit in the next funding cycle.