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Terry Flatt Executive VP at left, Representative Mark Smith, D from Marshalltown and Peg Mohler Marshalltown Branch Manager of Hammer Medical meet to discuss healthcare issues at the company’s corporate headquarters.
Representative Mark Smith D, Marshalltown and Chairman of the Iowa Health Committee and Health and Human Services subcommittee member took time out of his busy schedule to meet with Terry Flatt and Peg Mohler on Martin Luther King Day. Rep. Smith listened to concerns about a recent 5% across the board cut and a 50% reduction in capped rental rates as well as the Governor’s proposed plan for competitive bidding medical equipment by the Iowa Medicaid program. Due to the grass roots effort, Smith was well aware of Iowa provider concerns with competitive bidding and has been involved in several meetings this session where the subject had been discussed. Rep. Smith, a licensed social worker, pledged his support and offered to discuss this issue directly with Jennifer Vermeer Iowa Medicaid director.
Additionally, Smith along with Senator Jack Hatch, D Des Moines is co-sponsoring a bill that would expand the Iowa Cares program to individual hospitals and clinics around the state. Currently low income Iowa residents are required to go to Broadlawns Hospital if they reside in Polk County. Residents of all other 99 Iowa counties are required to go to the University Hospital in Iowa City to be approved for services, which creates a financial burden for many of the low income Iowans that qualify for the program.
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