Nursing home providers in Iowa could see more timely Medicaid reimbursements following a request by the state’s top executive.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) suggested during a forum Tuesday that the state could develop a new law or change administrative rules that “put some more teeth in it to make it fairer in how we address the non-payment of [Medicaid] funds,” the Des Moines Register reported.
The state’s $5 billion Medicaid program was privatized in 2016 and since then has been criticized by providers and recipients who claim health insurers have cut services and aren’t reimbursing providers in a timely manner.
Last week, the state announced it’s withholding $44 million in funds from one of two private insurance companies that provide care to the state’s Medicaid recipients. The state cited as justification incorrect claims payments; untimely, incorrect and inaccurate submission of data files; and incorrect pricing and payment of provider claims.
“We’re all partners in delivering services to Iowans, and they need to hold up their end of the bargain,” Reynolds said.
