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Iowa

Latest Headlines

Latest Headlines

Senators: State regulators should investigate Wellmark's $1.3B reserves

Iowa Sens. Jack Hatch and Matt McCoy are questioning whether Wellmark, the biggest insurer in Iowa, needs $1.3 billion in reserves when regulations only require insurers to carry $350 million in reserves.

Wellmark pledges not to raise rates in 2014

Despite raising rates multiple times over the last several years, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield announced that it won't increase premiums more than the cost to cover the reform law's fees and taxes on insurers.

Iowa reaches compromise on Medicaid expansion

The Iowa Legislature has approved a bill expected to significantly expand coverage for the poor under the Affordable Care Act without dramatically growing the Medicaid rolls.

Louisiana bill looks to ban abortion via telemedicine

A bill that looks to ban telemedicine abortions--in which a doctor coaches a patient through taking an abortion pill via a video connection--was backed by Louisiana's Senate Health and Welfare Committee and sent to the Senate floor for debate.

The endgame arguments on expanding Medicaid

With just nine months remaining before the mostly complete implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the debate and political maneuvering has reached its endgame. How the ACA will appear in January...

More states finalizing exchange plans

Insurers are starting to get a clearer picture of which states will be implementing their own health insurance exchanges and which will default to the federal-run marketplaces.

Wellmark launches Iowa's first ACO

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield has launched Iowa's first accountable care organization with the state's largest hospital system Iowa Health. Although participating providers will continue to

North Dakota denied MLR waiver; Iowa, Kentucky approved

Insurers operating in North Dakota were dealt a disappointing blow when the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) denied the state's request to delay implementation of the medical-loss

Iowa, North Dakota want MLR waivers too

Iowa and North Dakota have become the latest states asking the Obama administration for relief from the medical-loss ratio requirement, according to The Hill’s Healthwatch. Iowa Insurance