The Register's editorial Published 4:00 p.m. CT Sept. 5, 2017

The state's proud history of using federal waivers to expand care to residents has come to an end

Medicaid is a federal program designed to provide health insurance to low-income Americans. Guidelines are set by Washington, which pays most of the expense. When a state wants to deviate from those guidelines, it needs to obtain a “waiver” from the federal government. Such waivers are common. But using them to deny care is unconscionable.

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This state now seeks federal permission to deny care to Iowans and avoid paying health providers.

House File 653, passed by lawmakers this year and signed by Branstad, orders the Iowa Department of Human Services to seek a waiver amendment to circumvent the federal government’s “retroactive eligibility provision.”

That provision allows for Medicaid payments for health-care services provided in the three months leading up to a person being formally declared eligible for the health insurance. These individuals may not yet have applied for benefits or their coverage has lapsed.

Iowa’s elected officials want approval to eliminate the three-month time frame. If the feds agree, Iowa's Medicaid program would pay only for the care that’s delivered from the first day of the month in which the patient applies for eligibility.

...more...http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/09/05/iowa-medicaid-cut-waiver-health/623774001/