In This Issue:

Implementation of the Affordable Care Act; Other HHS and Federal Regulatory Initiatives; Other Congressional and State Initiatives; Other Health Care News; and Hearings and Mark-Ups Scheduled.

Excerpt from Implementation of the Affordable Care Act -

On March 4th Iowa Governor Terry Branstad (R) proposed his “Health Iowa Plan” as an alternative to Medicaid expansion in his state. Under his plan, Medicaid coverage will be provided to residents at or below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Everyone else above would be placed into the federal-state partnership exchange being developed in Iowa with tax subsidies. Democrats in the state say Gov. Branstad’s plan would cost millions of dollars more and cover half as many people as the standard Medicaid expansion. On March 7th U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, said he expects that Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sebelius will reject Iowa’s plan.