Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Governor Culver Signs Into Law Major Health Care Reform Legislation
Governor Aims to Make Iowa “Healthiest State in the Nation”
(DES MOINES) – Today, joined by Lt. Governor Patty Judge at the Primary Health Care Center in Des Moines, Governor Chet Culver signed into law the major health care reform legislation and appropriations.
Governor Culver devoted a significant portion of his Condition of the State Address in January to the issue of health care, urging the legislature to “take up the challenge of making health care affordable and accessible to all Iowans.”
The legislature delivered on many of the Governor’s key priorities, which he signed into law today. These priorities include House File 2539, which:
- Covers young adults through the age of 25 on their parents insurance;
- Eliminates pre-existing condition barriers when moving from group to individual health insurance;
- Sets up the Electronic Health Records Information Advisory Council and goals for statewide electronic health system;
- Creates the Healthy Communities Initiative with $900,000 grant program to energize local communities to promote healthy lifestyles;
- Creates the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Nutrition Council;
- Provides funding for a $25 million, three-year appropriation for coverage for all children by the end of 2010 by expanding HAWK-i and other strategies to boost enrollments;
- Forms a pathway to develop a plan to cover all adults by 2013;
- Creates the Medical Home Advisory Council; and
- Improves Prevention and Chronic Care Management planning in the Department of Public Health.
In addition to addressing health care costs, the Governor also urged the legislature to focus on health issues related to nursing, wellness and nutrition. Senate File 2425, the Health and Human Services Appropriation bill which the Governor is also signing today, addresses these priorities. This legislation includes:
- 1% Medicaid provider rate increase with the hospital increase being devoted to raising nurse salaries;
- 1% provider rate increase for child and family service providers, including shelter;
- 2% child care provider rate increase;
- $750,000 in family planning funding to prevent unintended pregnancies;
- $5.5 million for hospital re-basing;
- $1 million to increase the number of face to face visits for foster children.
The “Healthy Kids Act” is included within Senate File 2425. This includes:
- Developing nutritional content standards for any food sold on school grounds;
- Creation of Nutrition Advisory Panel;
- Requiring all AEAs employ a dietician to support implementation;
- Requiring all K-12 students engage in 30 minutes of physical activity per school day;
- Requiring every student is certified in CPR by the time they graduate from high school.
“In January, during my Condition of the State address, I asked one simple question: ‘Why shouldn’t every Iowan get the same type of health insurance that elected officials get?’” said Governor Culver. “Well, that was my goal then, and it is now. I’m proud to say today, we come closer to this goal. I believe we can make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. With my signature today, we will make health care more affordable and accessible to tens of thousands of Iowans, and improve the health of Iowans across the state.”
During the event, the Lt. Governor celebrated the completion of three more steps of the 'Five Steps Toward A Healthy Iowa' plan. Through the Healthy Kids Act and the Health Care Reform Bills, which were signed by the Governor today, Step One - Remove unhealthy foods from our schools, Step two - improve the health of our children, and Step Five - Promote Prevention Efforts Amongst Iowans, have been completed. Two weeks ago, Step Three was completed with the passage of the statewide smoke free legislation. Developed last year by the Governor and Lt. Governor, the 'Five Steps' were designed to promote wellness across the state, and improve the lives of Iowans.
Governor Culver used his line item veto authority on this bills signed today. Attached are veto messages which have been transmitted to the Secretary of State. veto message 1 | veto message 2