The financial report for the Washington County Department of Public Health will look differently next month as Medicaid privatization is now in effect in Iowa. Peggy Wood, the agency’s fiscal administrator, explained they used to be reimbursed weekly for Medicaid but now with the managed care organizations the payments vary and so far they’ve received no Iowa Medicaid reimbursements as of May 1. She added they have had some success with claims with United Healthcare, but it was reimbursed at 30%, despite the contract they have.

Administrator of Washington County Public Health Danielle Pettit-Majewski shared she’s reached out to legislators and has heard back from two, Senators Kevin Kinney and Rich Taylor. She said they aren’t seeing a cost savings, but a cost shifting. Pettit-Majewski added there are worries that if referrals to get in the program aren’t done that people will use the most expensive form of care – the emergency room and going into nursing homes, instead of aging in their own homes.

Wood shares they used to receive $35,000 each month for reimbursements for home health, case management and therapy.