**RELEASE** Healthiest Iowa Initiative members respond to Gov Branstad’s proposal, plan statewide rallies Sunday and Tuesday‏

Healthiest Iowa Initiative to Hold “Medicaid Madness” Rallies Across the State on Sunday, Tuesday

27 organizations have joined and more than 1,200 have signed the petition with the Healthiest Iowa Initiative, including small business owners, health care providers, and citizen organizations

DES MOINES — The Healthiest Iowa Initiative today announced locations and details for Sunday’s “Medicaid Madness” rallies that will be held on Sunday, April 7th and Tuesday, April 9th. The rallies, which will educate Iowans about Medicaid expansion and ask them to contact Governor Branstad to support Medicaid expansion, will take place in Des Moines, Waterloo, and Ames. More information about the Healthiest Iowa Initiative can be found at http://www.healthiestiowa.com.

Update: After Governor Branstad released his health care plan late Thursday night, several members of the Healthiest Iowa Initiative have offered statements in response:

STATEMENT FROM MATT SINOVIC, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PROGRESS IOWA

“Governor Branstad’s plan puts politics first and the health of Iowans dead last. His plan falls short of providing quality care and leaves thousands of Iowa families with no health care security. Most importantly, the Governor has reached the height of hypocrisy by embracing a plan that relies on federal funding, which has been his stated reason to reject Medicaid expansion until this point.”

STATEMENT FROM SUE DINSDALE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF IOWA CITIZEN ACTION NETWORK

“It’s clear that Governor Branstad’s so-called health care plan is more costly and considerably narrower than Medicaid expansion, the fact of the matter is that Medicaid expansion is simply a better policy than “TerryCare”. Iowa Citizen Action Network continues to call on the Governor to insure 150,000 Iowans. There simply is no alternative. Medicaid expansion is the right thing to do morally, and the right thing to do fiscally. Governor Branstad – don’t opt for an inferior program that will be a disservice to Iowans… say yes to Medicaid Expansion.”

STATEMENT FROM JAN LAUE, PRESIDENT OF IOWA ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS

“Governor Branstad’s plan costs more, covers fewer Iowans and appears to be an administrative nightmare. Expanding Medicaid is still the sensible option.”

STATEMENT FROM KEN SAGAR, PRESIDENT OF THE IOWA FEDERATION OF LABOR, AFL-CIO

“This Governor has had over nine months to come up with an alternative to Medicaid expansion, and unfortunately the best thing he can come up with is tired old ideas. This plan leaves tens of thousands of Iowans out of health insurance coverage, and would even drop enrollees if they miss one co-payment. The bottom line is still this: compared to Medicaid expansion, this plan will cost Iowa more and cover less people. We look forward to a public hearing that will show the public just how wrong this plan is.”

STATEMENT FROM KELLI SOYER, CO-CHAIR OF THE IOWA HUMAN NEEDS ADVOCATES

“Medicaid Expansion will benefit all of Iowa. The program will assist working and low-income Iowans access the Iowa health care system. Expansion will improve overall health outcomes. Medicaid

Expansion is good for Iowa!”

“Medicaid Madness” Upcoming Events (note: the Davenport event has been postponed)

WATERLOO

WHEN: Sunday, April 7th, 2:00 PM

WHERE: Lincoln Park, East 4th & Franklin, Waterloo, Iowa

WHAT: Rally/Press Conference in support of Medicaid Expansion

WHO: Belinda Creighton-Smith, Pastor

Keenan Crown, University of Northern Iowa student

Chris Schwartz, Organizer, Working Families Win

Midge Slater, Organizer, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans

Faith Temple Baptist Choir

 

DES MOINES

WHEN: Sunday, April 7th, 2:00 PM

WHERE: West Capitol Steps, East 9th & Grand Ave, Des Moines, Iowa

WHAT: Rally/Press Conference in support of Medicaid Expansion

WHO: Senator Jack Hatch, Des Moines

Jan Laue, President, Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans

Sue Dinsdale, Executive Director, Iowa Citizen Action Network

Felicia Chumley, Financial Counselor, ISED Ventures

AMES

WHEN: Tuesday, April 9th, 7:45 AM

WHERE: Outside the Scheman Center on Iowa State University campus, the corner of Beach & Lincolnway, Ames, Iowa

WHAT: Rally/Press Conference in support of Medicaid Expansion prior to the Governor’s Conference on Public Health

WHO: Dr. Selden Spencer, Physician, Ames

Sue Dinsdale, Executive Director, Iowa Citizen Action Network

Matt Sinovic, Executive Director, Progress Iowa

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. Although the Iowa Senate passed full Medicaid expansion, the House will likely adopt the Governor’s plan and negotiations will continue. As they do, participants in the Healthiest Iowa Initiative will continue to reach out to their elected officials to make sure the voices of Iowans are heard.

The 27 organizations participating in the Healthiest Iowa Initiative include

AFSCME Iowa Council 61

Americans for Democratic Action

AMOS

Brain Injury Alliance of Iowa

Disability Rights Iowa

Hawkeye Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Iowa Alliance for Retired Americans

Iowa Citizen Action Network

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement

Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

Iowa Human Needs Advocates

Iowa Main Street Alliance

Iowa Mental Health Planning Council

Iowa Olmstead Consumer Task Force

Iowa State Education Association

Iowa Statewide Independent Living Council

NAMI Greater Des Moines

National Association of Social Workers, Iowa Chapter

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Upper Midwest Chapter

One Iowa

Passageway

Planned Parenthood Voters of Iowa

Progress Iowa

Progressive Action for the Common Good

SEIU Local 199

South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

Working Families Win.

In addition to learning about Medicaid expansion at Medicaid Madness events, Iowans are 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.