Iowa modernized its Medicaid program on April 1, and has experienced no major systemic issues with this important transition. And, I’m pleased to report that we’ve been able to rapidly address questions and concerns to quickly meet the needs of our members and Iowa’s dedicated providers.

By taking a proactive, patient-centered approach, the new IA Health Link program is enabling Iowa’s most vulnerable citizens to access more providers than ever before across the state with a focus on care coordination, higher quality services and accountability for improving member health. The old Medicaid program lacked this new level of coordination and services were often siloed.

Over 40 million Medicaid members in 39 states and Washington, D.C., get coverage through managed care, and we recognized the importance of modernizing health coverage for Iowa’s growing Medicaid population. Now, new technology and tools will give us the ability to measure health outcomes and ensure Medicaid members are getting the services they need.

Iowans’ health will improve through the IA Health Link program, which offers 80 value-added services above and beyond what old Medicaid offered. And, there’s a new focus on preventive care and coordination to reduce the need for emergency room visits, hospitalizations and surgeries, and to eliminate unnecessary or duplicative services.

Addressing issues with compassion

Careful planning and safety protocols were put in place for the transition to rapidly address our members’ needs. Along with our health plan partners, we’ve responded to members’ questions and concerns quickly and compassionately.

We continue working with our health plans to ensure member-provider relationships are maintained whenever possible. Some providers have chosen not to participate in the new program, and we can’t force them to do so. However, our managed care health plans have built robust, federally approved provider networks to deliver the right care, at the right time, and in the right setting.

In fact, under this Medicaid Modernization effort, more doctors, advance nurse practitioners, occupational and physical therapists and psychologists are signed up now than compared to the old Medicaid network. We continue to build upon these networks as we offer access to quality care across the state.

I want to assure you this new program doesn’t change the member benefits available through Medicaid. And, we have significant safeguards and compliance standards in place to protect our members. Iowa Medicaid’s top priority is to oversee a program that is responsive to members and helps them to achieve healthier, more stable lives.

Future health outcome

This modernization effort emphasizes improving member health outcomes. For the first time, we will have nearly 1,000 measurable results to comprehensively track whether members are getting healthier – something Medicaid could never do before.

For example, nationally from 2010 to 2014, managed care programs doubled the number of adults who participated in an adult Body Mass Index assessment. With the commercial health coverage I receive, and that other state employees receive, we undergo health risk assessments annually. These assessments identify health risks, ensure preventive care and curb unnecessary visits to the doctor. We know that better managed care is essential to making Iowans healthier, and the IA Health Link program will do just that.

We know that members are already getting connected with case management, medical equipment, support services and programs they didn’t have before, and we look forward to hearing more positive results as the new IA Health Link program makes meaningful impacts in our members’ lives.

Here to help

Iowa Medicaid’s member hotline is available on weekdays to assist you during this transition, and our managed care health plans have 24/7 call centers to work with you and your loved ones. You can find all the toll-free numbers on our website at www.IAHealthLink.gov or by calling 1-800-338-8366. Many resources are available, and we welcome you to visit our site or call us for more information.

Mikki K. Stier is Iowa’s Medicaid director.