March 29, 2024

Iowa Senate panel backs Medicaid expansion

DES MOINES (AP) — A Human Resources Subcommittee approved a bill to expand Medicaid Thursday, but Gov. Terry Branstad says he opposed the expansion, and the bill likely has little chance in the Republican-controlled House.

The bill would extend Medicaid to an additional 150,000 Iowans. The federal government would pick up all costs for three years, then 10 percent of expenses would gradually shift to the state.

Democratic Sen. Pam Jochum, the bill sponsor, says the subcommittee met despite of an impending snow storm to ensure Medicaid expansion would pass before March 8, when bills must be reported out of Senate committees.

The bill now moves to the full Senate committee.