2017 ISSUE #12

It's hard to believe that the legislative session will begin in less than a month.  Legislators will return to Des Moines for their 100-day legislative session on Monday, January 8, 2018.  If this were a weather forecast, we'd tell you storms are ahead. Iowa's 150 legislators will have no shortage of challenges this year, and chief among them will be balancing the budget.  

The state is short about $90 million for this current fiscal year, which began on July 1, 2017.  New revenue estimates released on December 11 show a budget that is spending more money than collected.  Legislators will need to act quickly in January to cut current-year budgets by $90 million, and prepare a new budget for the next fiscal year that is equally bare-bones.  The only other alternative is to find new revenues (that is, raise taxes).

These new revenue estimates are important, because the Governor bases her fiscal year 2019 (FY19) budget on them.  Governor Reynolds will have to make tough decisions on spending in her first budget, which she will present to the Legislature on the second day of session (Tuesday, January 9, 2018).  

In addition to this stormy budget season, lawmakers will also face other big issues in 2018, including:

• Tax Reform:  There is discussion about the elimination of the state's income tax, more property tax cuts, and a plan to increase the state's sales tax by a penny, using the first 3/8 (about $170 million) for water quality and the remaining funds for mental health and disability services (removing the MH/DS property tax and replacing it with state funds), education, and other tax reforms.  
   
• Water Quality: Legislators came close to passing a plan to clean up Iowa's waterways, but were unable to get it across the finish line. There is a bill held over from last year that is only one vote away from passage, so it is very possible that this could be done early in session.
   
• Bottle Bill: Grocery stores are leading a charge to get rid of the state's landmark 5-cent bottle deposit law, aka "the bottle bill."  This is very controversial, but its not a partisan issue.  There are Republicans and Democrats that want to keep Iowa's bottle deposit law, and an equal number that want to make a change.  Many local organizations use bottle deposits to raise money, and some redemption centers work with local disability service organizations to create jobs in their community.  It'll be an interesting showdown.
   
• Mental Health & Opioids:  Law enforcement is driving a lot of the discussion on both of these topics, because of the huge increase in overdose deaths hitting our state, and the lack of services that is forcing sheriffs and police officers to drive individuals experiencing a mental health crisis all over the state looking for help.  In addition, two lobbyists lost family members in the past year to opioid addiction, and have told their personal stories to the legislators they see daily.   Several work groups and committees have worked on this over the interim, and will have recommendations. Lawmakers are serious about doing something - but without additional money, it may be tough. Our first issue of 2018 will review the recommendations in these reports (they are being finalized now). 

There are a lot of other issues that lawmakers will try to tackle - Medicaid managed care, tobacco tax increase, public retirement (IPERS) changes, and education funding.  As always, expect the unexpected when lawmakers return in January.  

If you have an issue, now is the time to get it on your legislators' radar.  Call, email, or write your legislators and ask them to help!  

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Starting next year, Iowans will be asked to show identification in order to vote.   Voters can use an Iowa driver's license or non-operator ID, but that is not an option for 123,000 registered Iowa voters who don't have that identification. If you do not currently have an Iowa driver's license or ID - watch your mailbox!  

This week the Secretary of State's office began mailing out new Voter ID cards that will make sure every Iowan in the state will have identification to use when voting.  Iowans receiving these new "voter Id cards" will need to show them when voting.  Only Iowans without a current Iowa driver's license or ID will get these cards.  

 “It should be easy to vote, but hard to cheat, and that’s what this new law ensures,” Secretary Pate said. “We are taking the unprecedented step of mailing free Voter ID cards automatically to every registered voter who does not already have an Iowa driver’s license or non-driver’s ID. Only those Iowans will receive these cards. I encourage them to be on the lookout for the Voter ID cards in the mail, and when they receive their card, open it, sign it and keep it.” 

• An audio clip of Secretary Pate’s quote is available here.  
• A picture of the envelope the cards will arrive in is available here.
• A sample picture of the new Voter ID card is available here.
• Frequently asked questions about the new Voter ID law is available here.

Few more things to remember:

• If you have a valid Iowa driver’s license or non-operator ID you will not receive a voter ID card. Only registered voters who do not currently have an Iowa driver’s license or ID issued from the Iowa DOT will receive a Voter ID card.   If you do not receive your Voter ID card before the end of the year, and think you should have received one, contact the Secretary of State's office at sos@sos.iowa.gov or (888) 767-8663.  
   
• If you lose your card after receiving it in the mail, you will need to contact your county auditor’s office for a replacement card. 
   
• If you move, update your voter registration and a new Voter ID card will be mailed to you (if you don't have a driver's license or ID). The updated Voter ID Card will be mailed to your new address.   
   
• Beginning January 1, 2018, voters will be asked to show their ID before voting at the polls. Anyone who does not have the necessary ID will be asked to sign an oath verifying their identity, and will be allowed to cast a regular ballot. No eligible voter will be turned away.
  
  
• Beginning January 1, 2019, Iowa voters will be required to show a driver’s license, non-driver’s ID, passport, military ID, veterans ID, or Voter ID Card at the polls before they vote. Voters without the necessary ID may use an attester (a voter from their precinct to verify your identity), or they will be offered a provisional ballot and can provide ID up until the time of the county canvass of votes (Monday after election day for Primary and General Elections). Again, no eligible voter will be turned away, but you may have to do some follow-up in order to have your vote count.

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On December 12, voters in Plymouth and Woodbury Counties chose a new State Senator.

Rep. Jim Carlin (R-Sioux City) was elected to the Iowa Senate, replacing Sen. Bill Anderson, who left to take a new job in Cherokee County.  Rep. Carlin, who defeated Le Mars Democrat Todd Wendt by 603 votes in this heavily Republican district, has served one year in the Iowa House of Representatives.  

Rep. Carlin will need to resign from his House seat before being sworn in as a State Senator.  Once he does this, the Governor will call another special election to fill his House seat (House District 6).  With the holidays and session approaching, the special election may not be called until February.

The upcoming House special election will be the 6th in a year, a pace that has made it nearly impossible to keep our Guide to the Iowa Legislature updated.  It's not just the special elections, but the changes in committees and changes in leadership 

that follow.  We continue to update it as we get new information.

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The state's move to Medicaid managed care has been rocky from the beginning.  Every week there is another twist that threatens the stability of the system.  It's no surprise that many Iowans with disabilities are confused, scared, and angry.  

In the past month, AmeriHealth Caritas has left the state and all of its members were moved to United. About 10,000 former AmeriHealth members had asked to change to Amerigroup, which didn't have capacity.  Instead, the state is temporarily managing their care until Amerigroup has capacity, or another MCO is added.  But no one knows what "temporary" means.  

Last week, United began telling providers that they would be ending the successful Integrated Health Home (IHH) program for AmeriHealth transfers that are not receiving habilitation or children's mental health waiver services.  This impacts approximately 5,000 Iowans with disabilities, and could be effective at the beginning of the year.    

If you are unfamilar with the IHH program, it was created in 2013 to help Iowans with serious emotional disorders and serious mental illnesses receive the support they need in the community through intensive care coordination.  Ironically, the IHH program was created by a managed care organization (Magellan) to improve outcomes, allow individuals to experience recovery while living safely in their communities, and ultimately save Medicaid dollars.

At this point, we do not know if this change will be allowed, and if the state has any say in the change.  Because these changes are happening so quickly, we do not want to add to the confusion by printing something in a newsletter that will be reversed or revised the next week.  It's easy to feel like you cannot make a difference, but there are things you can do to take control of your care:

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The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) has hired a new Medicaid Director.  Michael Randol has been appointed director of the Iowa Medicaid Enterprise (IME), where he will oversee the $5 billion program that serves more than 600,000 Iowans each year. 

Most recently, Randol was Kansas' State Medicaid Director, another state that has had its challenges with managed care.  Prior to that he was the Veterans Services Manager with the Kansas Department of Commerce, Vice-President with US Bank, Director of Accounts Payable for a large privately held company, and Budget Manager and Lead Auditor for local and state governments.

Randol retired from the United States Air Force, after assignments in New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois, California, Okinawa Japan and North Dakota.   He has a Master's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Accounting.  

Medicaid Directors may not get a lot of personal time, but when he does, Randol enjoys spending time with his family, which includes two children and eight grandchildren, and pursuing his passion for woodcarving.  He must also enjoy challenges!

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Click here to get this issue in PDF format.

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