Schedule of Events Monday, March 25th
A coalition of small business owners, health care providers, and citizen organizations on Monday will launch the Healthiest Iowa Initiative and call on Governor Branstad to accept the expansion of Medicaid in Iowa. Representatives from participating organizations will hold a press conference Monday morning at 8:30 a.m. at the State Historical Society to launch the Healthiest Iowa Initiative and the “Medicaid Madness” statewide press tour to be held on March 27th. More information about the Healthiest Iowa Initiative can be found at http://www.healthiestiowa.com. The “Medicaid Madness” tour will feature events in at least Mason City, Davenport, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo
8:30 a.m.

Press conference launching “Healthiest Iowa Initiative”

Location: State Historical Society, Heritage Room B (first floor), 600 East Locust, Des Moines
We will launch the initiative with the press, and call on the Governor to support Medicaid expansion. Justin Anderson, a resident of Clear Lake and a cancer survivor, will speak about how Medicaid expansion will benefit him. Sue Dinsdale, Executive Director Iowa Citizens Action Network; Jan Laue, President of Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans and MAtt Sinovic, Director for Progress Iowa.
9:00 a.m.
Governor Branstad’s weekly press conference
Location: State Historical Society, 2nd floor, 600 East Locust, Des Moines
Details: After our press conference, we will encourage reporters to ask the Governor why he supports a plan that costs Iowa more, covers fewer Iowans, and has no guarantee of federal funding.
4:30 p.m.
Planned rally in rotunda of the Capitol prior to Senate Debates.
5:00 p.m.
The Senate Debates Medicaid expansion
Location: State Capitol
Details: Watch from the gallery as the Senate debates Medicaid expansion. We will want to be there to show our support!
There is an overflow room for this event – room 116.
Twitter on this issue at #medicaidmatters
Accepting Medicaid expansion would cover an additional 150,000 Iowans – uninsured young adults, veterans, the working poor, and mentally ill. Although he has objected to expansion because of a potential failure on the part of the federal government to honor its commitments, Governor Branstad’s alternative plan costs Iowa more and still relies on the federal government for funding.The 19 organizations participating in the Healthiest Iowa Initiative include Iowa Citizen Action Network, National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Chapter, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest Chapter, Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC), Disability Rights Iowa, Passageway, Iowa Main Street Alliance, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans, Iowa Human Needs Advocates, Iowa State Education Association, AFSCME Iowa Council 61, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa, Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, South Central Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, Hawkeye Labor Council, Working Families Win, Americans for Democratic Action, and Progress Iowa. “Governor Branstad claims he wants Iowa to be the healthiest state, but he’s sure not acting like it,” said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. “The Healthiest Iowa Initiative will help to educate and empower Iowans to contact the Governor, and let him know the best way for a healthiest Iowa is to accept Medicaid expansion. The Governor has repeatedly refused to save the state money and provide health care security to struggling Iowa families, but we are hopeful that if he hears directly from his constituents – the people he’s supposed to serve – he will have a change of heart.”

In addition to learning about Medicaid expansion, Iowans will be encouraged to sign the following petition at http://www.healthiestiowa.com: Iowa has the opportunity to approve a Medicaid expansion as part of Obamacare. We call on Governor Branstad to take this opportunity to help thousands of Iowans rather than pursue a plan that costs more, covers fewer and has no guarantee of federal funding. There are no real reasons – only political rhetoric – for failing to support Medicaid expansion in Iowa.

Background/Quotes supporting Medicaid Expansion:

“[Medicaid Expansion] is a great deal for our state or any state, which is exactly why so many Republican governors are signing on.” – Senator Tom Harkin

“Because we believe the advantages to Medicaid expansion outweigh the potential for this one disadvantage, we urge Branstad to drop his opposition and agree to expansion of the program in our state.” – Sioux City Journal Editorial

“There is no reasonable excuse for Governor Branstad’s refusal to expand Medicaid.” – Sister Jeanie Hagedorn, CHM

“We would really like to see both (Legislative) houses working on this together and the governor’s office – just lay down the political banners on this and work to do what’s right for the patients of Iowa.” Iowa Health System Vice President Sabra Rosener.

“Medicaid expansion will reduce direct Medicaid costs to the state, and enable the state to draw down billions of dollars in additional federal funding that will support jobs and maintain the state’s health care infrastructure,” Report by George Washington University and Regional Economic Models, Inc.