Supervisors Expected To Approve Ethanol Urban Renewal Report
(Le Mars) — The Plymouth County Board of Supervisors will hold its weekly meeting
today at the County Courthouse Board Room. The county supervisors is expected to
approve the Plymouth County Ethanol Urban Renewal report for fiscal year 2015-
2016. The supervisors will hear from attorney Craig Bauerly, as he will address
the county governing board seeking approval on a minor subdivision for Oversight
Addition located within Remsen Township. The supervisors will also get a
construction update from county engineer Tom Rohe.
Iowa’s Privatized Medicaid Companies Say They Are Losing Money
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A representative for one of the insurance companies
overseeing Iowa’s newly privatized Medicaid program says it has lost money during
the system’s implementation.
Kim Foltz, CEO for UnitedHealthcare’s Iowa operations, cited information in a
new quarterly report in telling a legislative oversight committee on Monday at the
Iowa Capitol that the company has lost money. She later declined to provide
specific information on a dollar figure.
The confirmation means all three insurance companies that run Iowa’s health
care program for more than 500,000 poor and disabled residents have lost money in
the initial months of implementation.
AmeriHealth Caritas and Amerigroup, the other companies, filed reports
recently showing losses in the tens of millions of dollars in the first six
months. UnitedHealthcare did not break down those costs in its filing.
Legislative Committee Holds Hearing On Privatized Medicaid Program
(Des Moines) — State officials say the three private companies now managing care
for the 560-thousand Medicaid patients in Iowa saved Iowa taxpayers 22 million
dollars in April, May and June — but exactly how that savings came about is
unclear. Liz Matney (MATT-nee) of the Iowa Department of Human Services says
there are “pretty wide variances” in how the companies report paid claims.
*
[RIcapafternoon3] :08 :reporting issue.”
*
In the department’s quarterly report on Medicaid spending, there’s a “top 10”
list of why claims for prescription drugs were denied. UnitedHealthcare’s number
one reason was because of an error. The number two reason AmeriHealth hadn’t paid
those claims was because the “claim has not been paid.” Representative Lisa
Heddens (HEAD-unz), a Democrat from Ames, says it makes no sense for the report to
label a processed claim as “clean” if the doctor, hospital or other health care
provider hadn’t been paid correctly or hadn’t been paid at all.
*
[RIcapafternoon4] :06 :in the report.”
*
Representative Mary Mascher (MASH-er), a Democrat from Iowa City, says she’s
getting nothing but complaints from constituents.
*
[RIcapafternoon5] :13 :from no one.”
*
Kim Foltz (FOHLTZ) is C-E-O of the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Iowa. It’s
one of the three managed care companies for Iowa Medicaid patients.
*
[RIcapafternoon6] :06 :positive stories.”
*
alternate cut.
*
[RIcapafternoon7] :05 :to these sessions.”
*
Cynthia MacDonald is president of the Amerigroup plan for Iowa Medicaid patients.
*
[RIcapafternoon8] :08 :is profound.”
*
Cheryl Harding is Iowa market president for AmeriHealth.
*
[RIcapafternoon9] :12 :they aren’t, so.”
*
Last week, Republican Governor Terry Branstad said the companies are preventing
“significant” fraud, waste and abuse. State officials told legislators yesterday
that there are now four software systems in place to track fraud and data will be
available later on how much fraud’s being caught. The state of Iowa spent more
than 332 million dollars on the Medicaid program during April, May and June. The
three companies were fined 44-hundred dollars for errors found in claim
information submitted in June. Senator David Johnson of Ocheyedan says the
Branstad Administration made a “unilateral decision” not to fine the three
companies for failing to meet performance standards in April and May.
*
[RIcapafternoon1] :10 :D-plus on that.”
*
Johnson recently changed his party registration from Republican to “no party” in
protest of having Donald Trump as the G-O-P’s presidential nominee. Republican
Representative Dave Heaton of Mount Pleasant says there had been a “few hiccups”
for Medicaid patients and health care providers since April 1st, but he said “the
time for partisanship is over.”
*
[RIcapafternoon2] :04 :some issues.”
*
Heaton is co-chair of the legislature’s Health Policy Oversight Committee. Two
dozen Medicaid patients and Iowa health care providers with complaints about the
new system spoke out during a two-hour public hearing on Monday morning at the
statehouse.
……………..
Oil Pipeline Company Asks For Restraining Order Against Protesters
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The company building an oil pipeline across Iowa is asking
a federal judge to issue a restraining order against two protest groups and their
leaders.
Dakota Access filed the action in Des Moines on Monday against Iowa Citizens
for Community Improvement, Bold Iowa and their directors including former state
lawmaker Ed Fallon, who leads Bold Iowa.
The groups are planning acts of civil disobedience along the pipeline route
to protest its construction.
The company seeks a court order keeping protesters at least 25 feet away from
construction easements which it says will “permit the meaningful opportunity to
exercise protected First Amendment speech while ensuring the safety of all
involved.”
Dakota Access says protesters have burned its equipment causing $3 million in
property damage and delaying construction in two counties.
Branstad Issues Disaster Proclamations For Two Northeast Iowa Counties
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Gov. Terry Branstad has issued disaster proclamations
for two northeast Iowa counties that endured severe storms and flooding.
Branstad on Monday issued the proclamations for Bremer and Chickasaw
counties, allowing state resources to be used to aid in recovery efforts from
storms Aug. 23.
Branstad’s action also activates the Individual Assistance Program for
residents of the two counties. The program provides grants of up to $5,000 for
households with incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level for car
repairs, replacement of clothing or food and temporary housing expenses.
Clayton County Supervisors Approve Sand Mining
ELKADER, Iowa (AP) – Clayton County supervisors have unanimously rezoned land
for a proposed sand mining expansion after months of study and debate.
The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports (https://bit.ly/2bMMiLJ ) the supervisors
voted 3-0 on Monday to rezone the 746 acres from agriculture to heavy industrial.
The approval is a key step for Pattison Sand Co.’s plan to expand its sand
mining operation.
The supervisors added restrictions requiring that mining be done underground,
that Pattison implement a well-monitoring program and that the company be
responsible for any well damage from the mining. The company also must file an
emergency plan with county officials and set back any ventilated shafts at least
500 feet from adjoining property lines.
Pattison still needs a conditional use permit from the county’s Board of
Adjustment.
—
State Pscycology Board Defends Actions
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Board of Psychology is explaining why it
declined earlier this month to adopt a rule that would have prohibited Iowa-
licensed psychologists from trying to reverse a patient’s sexual orientation with
a practice known as conversion therapy.
The board was petitioned in February by gay rights advocates to consider the
rule.
The board says in an order released Monday that it knows of no licensed
psychologist in Iowa engaging in conversion therapy. It says any person may file a
complaint if there are concerns about a psychologist’s practice and any complaint
regarding conversion therapy employed by a licensed psychologist will be
investigated.
The board says it already has sufficient authority to impose discipline on a
licensed psychologist engaged in practices it deems harmful or unethical.
