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Your Capitol Voice: Postpartum coverage extended to one year
by Bobby Kaufmann, State Representative · Op-Ed · April 10, 2024
This week we passed two pieces of legislation that are very different in subject matter but very important to a number of people in Cedar, Scott, and Muscatine counties.
Session is beginning to wrap up so in future columns I will discuss negotiations and agreements on both the appropriations and tax issues.
SF2251 — Postpartum Coverage — This week we passed an expansion of Medicaid postpartum coverage to one year after birth.
The bill sets the eligibility for pregnant women at 215% ($67,080/year for a family of 4) and provides health insurance for an entire year after birth.
This change would make Iowa 13th highest in the nation for eligibility for pregnant women. It will ensure that those receiving state support are the women who need it most.
This bill builds on a priority of mine to support new mothers.
In the past few sessions, I have supported the expansion of maternal regional centers of excellence, funded family medicine obstetric fellowships, limited the extremely high damage awards against birthing hospitals, and increased loan forgiveness to attract and retain OB/GYNs.
This is a top priority of mine and I have heard extensively about these issues back home.
All of this is a good start but I will continue to work to improve the system and environment for all mothers.
HF2674 — Rural Development Tax Credit Program — Several weeks ago I wrote about a bill I had drafted and pushed through the Ways & Means Committee regarding stimulating growth in small-town Iowa.
This week I am happy to report that every Democrat and every Republican voted for my legislation.
As a refresher, the bill allows for up to $27 million in tax credits for investors in projects that will reap at least $45 million in economic activity.
That is a phenomenal rate of return for our small communities. Through these tax credits, the bill will incentivize investment into new or expanding businesses in Iowa’s smallest 88 counties.
By incentivizing investors to put their money into projects in rural Iowa, we can create more jobs, lift up local economies, and build back vibrant communities.
At the end of session, things move rapidly as common ground is reached and main priorities are negotiated and passed.
I hope the Senate will take up my eminent domain bill and several other bills that the House has passed and sent to them.
Multiple conversations with the Governor’s Office, the Senate, and major constituencies will hopefully lead to a successful and productive end of the session.
You may contact Rep. Kaufmann at Bobby.Kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov, 563-260-3355 or 1527 330th St. Wilton, IA, 52778
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