Posts Tagged ‘Chet Culver’
Author: deanfiihr Published: April 14th, 2010
Senate File 2356
Directs DHS to amend the extension proposal for the IowaCare program to provide expansion population services through a phased in approach, utilizing the 14 Federally Qualified Health Centers statewide. Creates a mechanism to expand the IowaCare provider network to include private providers, and hospitals designated by the Department subject to availability of funds. Eestablishes a mechanism to leverage additional federal monies through certified public expenditures to compensate University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for a portion of the costs associated with physician care. Directs DHS to develop this plan in a phased in approach and to consult with the Medical Assistance and Projections Council and receive their approval prior to implementation. Establishes a payment mechanism for the regional provider network to receive payment for primary care services to IowaCare members. Directs the Department to adopt rules in collaboration with the Medical Home Advisory Council specifying the requirements and certification of a medical home. Directs the Department of Public Health to work with the appropriate entities to develop a plan for coordination of care for individuals with diabetes receiving care through members of the Iowa Collaborative Safety Net Provider Network.
Division II of SF2356 creates an insurance exchange in Iowa, the purpose of which is to establish an information clearinghouse where all Iowans can obtain information about health care coverage that is available in this state including availability of care delivered by safety-net providers and comparisons of benefits, premiums, and out-of-pocket costs. The bill specifies the nature of the information to be provided to consumers in making decisions about purchasing or acquiring health care coverage. The bill also establishes that the commissioner is to make recommendations to the Legislative Health Care Commission at each meeting of the Commission including those related to the promotion of greater transparency in providing quality data on health care providers and health care coverage plans and in providing data on the cost of medical care that is easily accessible to the public, statutory options that improve seamlessness in the health care system in this state and funding opportunities to increase health care coverage in the state, particularly for individuals who have been denied access to health insurance coverage.
House File 2370
Enterprise Zones are designed to stimulate development by targeting economically distressed areas in Iowa. Through state and local tax incentives, businesses and developers are encouraged to make new investments, and create or retain jobs in these areas. The goal of the program is to revitalize these areas and make them competitive with other locations throughout the state. Under current law, certification of enterprise zones ends on July 1, 2010. This law extends the deadline for 2 years to July 1, 2012. In addition, the cap under the program is eliminated since the program will fall under the tax credit cap for economic development programs created last year and modified in SF 2380, the tax credit reform bill pending the Governor’s signature.
House File 2483
Relates to trusts and estates including provisions relating to state inheritance tax, uniform transfers to minors, and medical assistance claims. This bill specifies that retirement plans subject to federal income tax when paid to a beneficiary are not subject to state inheritance tax. Increases transfers to minors from $10,000 to $25,000 under Uniform Law provisions. Allows electronic notice to DHS on estates in order to let DHS decide whether to make a Medicaid claim. This bill allows for distribution of property by affidavit if the property does not exceed $25,000. It states that remedies for a trustee’s failure to inform and account are not available for trusts created prior to July, 2002. In addition, this bill allows a transfer agent to request certification of the existence of a trust and of the identity of a trustee. This bill also adds provisions that allow the consent of a person, who can represent another, binding unless the represented person objects before the consent becomes effective and only applicable to written consents prior to July, 2010.
Senate File 2388
Creates a program that assesses urban hospitals a fee that would generate $40 million that can be used as a match for the state’s Medicaid program, and those funds are deposited in the Hospital Health Care Access Trust Fund. Hospitals are limited in the funds they can receive by the federal Upper Payment Limit ($69.1 million). Hospitals would receive a $20.5 million appropriation from the Trust Fund for a provider rate increase. The $20.5 million is then matched to draw down $48.6 million to reach the federal Upper Payment Limit of $69.1 million. The state nets $19.4 million for Medicaid expenses. The legislation also includes funding for hospital re-basing at $4.5 million in FY 12 and $6 million in FY 13.
Senate File 2331
Adds chiropractic as a covered service for hawk-i enrollees. Chiropractic is not currently specifically listed as a covered service. The legislation also allows any chiropractor who is licensed in the state of Iowa to be a participating provider in the hawk-i program. This means that a hawk-i participating health plan cannot limit their network if chiropractors want to be a hawk-i provider.
Tags: Chet Culver, Enterprise Zones, Health Care, mark smith, Phyllis Thede, state inheritance tax
Category 2010 Session Information, Health Care |
Author: deanfiihr Published: April 14th, 2010
State Representatives Ako Abdul-Samad and Wayne Ford were in attendance yesterday at Moulton Elementary in Des Moines as Governor Chet Culver signed bills encouraging diversity among teachers. Rep. Abdul-Samad and Rep. Ford spoke to students and teachers in the auditorium about the importance of education and diversity in the classroom.
With House File 2432, the Department of Education, area education agencies and public and private colleges and universities will study opportunities to employ and keep racial and ethnic minority teachers in the classroom. The representatives will look at specific methods to encourage minority students to enter teaching at Iowa universities and to encourage them to become school administrators in Iowa.
Staff support to the study group will come from the Board of Regents. A report is expected to the General Assembly by Jan. 10, 2011.
Tags: Ako Abdul-Samad, bill signing, Chet Culver, Education, Moulton Elementary, Wayne Ford
Category Education, Jobs & Economy |
Author: deanfiihr Published: April 8th, 2010
Iowa Governor Chet Culver today signed a bill that will impose new restrictions on campaign advertisements. The law will keep anonymous campaign advertisements paid for by big corporations, foreign businesses and shadow organizations, out of Iowa voters’ mailboxes and airwaves.
The legislation comes after Citizens United v. FEC, a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed corporate money in Iowa campaigns. For the first time in modern campaigns, big corporations will be allowed to spend money from their vast corporate treasuries in connection with Iowa elections. It will require any organization that makes independent expenditures to file a report with the board once their total expenditures reach $750. Additionally, each organization’s filing will need to disclose whether or not the organization is advocating for or against a particular candidate or ballot issue.
Tags: campaign reform, Chet Culver, restricting special interest
Category Oversight |
Author: deanfiihr Published: April 8th, 2010
Governor Chet Culver signed two pieces of veterans’ legislation at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, on April 6. House File 2532 allows benefits from the Veterans Trust Fund to be exempted from individual income tax, and Senate File 2175 provides for veteran representation on mental health policy bodies.
Below are summaries of the legislation the Governor signed:
House File 2532
Allows the two benefits of the Veterans Trust Fund – travel expenses related to follow-up medical care and unemployment assistance – that provide direct payments to the veteran to be exempted from individual income tax. The bill applies retroactively to January 1, 2010, for tax years beginning on or after that date.
Senate File 2175
Directs the Department of Human Services to coordinate with the Mental Health Planning Advisory Council so that a military veteran who is knowledgeable about behavioral and mental health issues of veterans is on the council. The council is required by federal law as a condition of receiving federal mental health funds. DHS does not make this appointment but can work with the council to identify and appoint a veteran. Also adds a member, appointed by the Governor, who is a military veteran knowledgeable about behavioral and mental health issues to the Mental Health, Mental Retardation, Developmental Disabilities, and Brain Injury Commission.
Tags: Chet Culver, Veterans
Category Veterans |
Author: deanfiihr Published: February 16th, 2010
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Governor Chet Culver, along with the six African American members of the Iowa House of Representatives celebrated Black History Month in Iowa on Monday. During the ceremony, Governor Culver read and signed the 2010 Black History Month proclamation.
“Black History Month is a time to celebrate, remember and reflect on the important roles African Americans play in our state,” Governor Culver said.
Each of the representatives presented awards during the ceremony to people throughout the state.
Representative Ako Abdul-Samad from Des Moines presented awards to Mr. Napoleon Douglas, a student at Roosevelt High School in Des Moines and president of the Des Moines NAACP Youth Council; Dr. Vincent Lewis, retiring principal of Des Moines North High School; and Kappa Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. for their work with Champions for Change.
Representative Helen Miller from Fort Dodge presented an award to Mr. Judge Brown, Jr. from Fort Dodge, an educator who worked on multicultural/gender-fair education and school desegregation and integration.
Representative Deborah Berry from Waterloo presented awards to Mr. Jim Day, a retired speech-language pathologist who is vice-president of the Black Hawk County branch of the NAACP and a commissioner on the Cedar Falls Human Rights Commission and Mr. Derrick Holmes, formerly of Waterloo and now a resident of Colorado, the CEO of Banneker Watches. In his absence and on his behalf, Representative Berry presented the State of Iowa with a miniature grandfather clock.
Representative Kerry Burt from Waterloo presented awards to Mr. Levorn Robinson, an entrepreneur who founded and owns Alpha Express, Inc; Mr. Robert Smith, a former school board president, Black Hawk County Supervisor, basketball and football referee, and director of UNI’s Educational Opportunity Center; and Ms. Diann Wilder-Tomlinson of Ankeny, who is deputy director for the Western Division of the Department of Corrections.
Representative Phyllis Thede from Davenport presented an award to Ida Johnson, who is the executive director of United Neighbors, Inc., in Davenport, which recently celebrated its 36th year.
Representative Wayne Ford from Des Moines presented awards to Mr. Barry Griswell, board member, former chairman and retired CEO of Principal Financial Group and current president of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines; Ms. Mary Lynne Jones, Director of Student Affairs for the Des Moines Public Schools; and Frank Bell Jr., the assistant director of programs for Urban Dreams.
Kevin Burt,The City Wide Youth Choir from Central Iowa, and Vashauna Evans from Waterloo provided entertainment during the ceremony.
See more YouTube videos from the ceremony here:
Representative Ako-Abdul Samad reading the resolution.
Representative Kerry Burt presenting awards.
Representative Wayne Ford presenting awards.
Representatives Helen Miller and Deborah Berry
Representative Phyllis Thede
Tags: awards, Black History Month, celebration, Chet Culver
Category 2010 Session Information, Featured |
