Harkin: Iowa Saves More Than $30 Million Thanks to Medicaid Expansion

Press Release

Today, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) applauded the news that Iowa hospitals saved $32.5 million because of Iowa's expansion of Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The savings are among the findings in a survey released by the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) this week. The IHA surveyed 101 hospitals across the state earlier this year and found that Iowa hospitals experienced a 45.7 percent decrease in the number of uninsured patients from 2013 to 2014.

"Every day, Iowa families continue to benefit from the Affordable Care Act and our state's bipartisan expansion of Medicaid. In addition to helping thousands of Iowans gain access to affordable healthcare, it is clear that Medicaid expansion has also been a smart investment, saving Iowa hospitals more than $30 million in uncompensated care," Harkin said. "Helping all Americans access quality, affordable healthcare is at the heart of why Congress passed the Affordable Care Act. I urge other states to join Iowa in putting the ACA to work for their states by expanding Medicaid and helping more families access the care they need."

IHA surveyed 101 hospitals across the state earlier this year from January 1 through June 30, comparing the number of patients seeking care who had or did not have health insurance coverage. Of the 159,000 hospital patients discharged during the January-June period, a total of 4,445 patients were uninsured compared to 8,181 during the same period of 2013 -- a 45.7 percent decrease across Iowa. As a result of Iowa's Medicaid expansion, the IHA survey concludes that Iowa hospitals saved an estimated $32.5 million.

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