State HHS officials give updates on Medicaid improvements

How to best serve Iowa residents with mental health, intellectual and physical disabilities, was the theme of a public forum hosted by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tuesday morning at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Marshalltown.

The state-funded Medicaid program provides funding directly to eligible clients to stay independent in home, group-home or other facilities.

"Iowans who need long-term services and support should be able to live and thrive in a place that feels like a home where they receive services that support their ability to work, be active and enjoy life with people they love," said a press release coinciding with the forum. "The goal is to make sure that everyone has access to high-quality behavioral health, disability and aging services in their communities."

In recent years, HHS has been criticized by some program recipients, a number of legislators. and agency care providers for a sometimes cumbersome Medicaid application process and reimbursement for services.

The closing of the Glenwood Resource Center in Glenwood, once managed by HHS, plus a class-action lawsuit initiated by some Medicaid recipients further complicated the issue.

A federal investigation was initiated at Glenwood by the U.S. Department of Justice over the way it treated people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Accusations of abuse and experimentation on its clients led to the investigation, according to numerous media reports.

Listening to HHS plans on Medicaid program redesign, improved delivery and more were approximately 60 attendees, among them Medicaid service providers like the Central Iowa Residential Services of Iowa (CIRSI), headquartered in Marshalltown, and staff from the Iowa Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, and Area Agency on Aging office, among others.

Elizabeth Matney, director of Iowa Medicaid with HHS, and agency director Kelly Garcia hit the problems head-on, reporting on problem identification, resolutions and more.

The two said making program changes to benefit recipients and care providers was a priority when they were hired.

"I knew changes had to be made in Medicaid shortly after I started work at HHS," said Garcia.

She was appointed director of HHS in 2019 by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds. She had previously worked in the human services field in Texas.

The two said they were working on making improvements only after listening to a group of Medicaid recipients, care providers and others. The public forums are part of the program problem identification process.

"We can only do our work with you, as part of a team effort," Matney told the attendees.

Jeff Vance, director of CIRSI, said attracting and retaining staff who want to work with program recipients has been an ongoing challenge.

CIRSI offers Supported Community Living to adults and children, according to its website.

The support can include 24-hour assistance or hourly casework services as needed.

The primary goal is for a person to live in his or her community or choice and have the necessary support, based on individual needs and desires.

Tuesday's public forum, the sixth in a series of 12, was part of the process Matney said.

Sen. Jeff Edler (R-State Center), who chairs the Iowa Senate's HHS Committee, thanked Matney and Garcia for their work to date and establishing the public forums.

Also in attendance was Rep. Sue Cahill (D-Marshalltown).

Additional public forums are scheduled in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Fort Dodge, Spencer, Sioux City and Council Bluffs, and previous forums were held in Des Moines, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Burlington and Waterloo.