Medicaid

Gov. Kim Reynolds directed the state health department to seek federal approval for Medicaid work requirements, she announced Tuesday.

Republicans in the Iowa Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would require certain Iowans on Medicaid to prove they are working at least 80 hours a month to keep their coverage, if the federal government approves the state’s plan.

State lawmakers have proposed adding work requirements to Medicaid as the federal government looks to make potentially drastic cuts to its funding.

Thousands of able-bodied Iowans could be required to report work hours to maintain their Medicaid eligibility under bills advancing in the Iowa legislature.

A proposal to remove Medicaid income and asset limits for Iowans with disabilities who work was passed out of House and Senate subcommittees Tuesday with bipartisan support.

Iowans with disabilities are asking state lawmakers to loosen Medicaid income limits so they can advance their careers and get married without risking the loss of health care services they rely on.

In her Condition of the State address Tuesday night, Reynolds said now that President-elect Trump will be taking office, she will ask for federal permission to establish work requirements for “able-bodied” Iowans who get health insurance through Medicaid.

Starting this month, Iowa Medicaid will start covering postpartum care for 12 months. Previously, coverage ended at 60 days.

May 1 marked a year since Iowa started disenrolling those no longer eligible from Medicaid. The number of Iowans disenrolled so far exceeds the state's initial projections.

More Iowans with disabilities who work could qualify for government-funded health coverage through Medicaid under a bill in the Iowa House of Representatives. But those who have been pushing for changes say it wouldn’t go far enough to ensure disabled Iowans can continue to receive services if they get a job promotion or get married.