Former Gov. Culver Convenes Medicaid Privatization Meetings

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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Iowa Gov. Chet Culver, often rumored a possible Congressional candidate, has scheduled town meetings next week to talk to Iowans affected by the state’s plan to hire three private companies to run the Medicaid program.

The public meetings will highlight the impact of the proposal on Iowa’s 560,000 people who rely on Medicaid for their health care needs.

Culver, a Democrat, says Iowa’s swift move toward privatization is putting peoples’ health at risk.

Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, who defeated Culver in 2010 proposed the privatization more than a year ago. The implementation has been delayed by the federal government until March 1 after officials concluded the state wasn’t prepared to make the switch to private company oversight.

Culver’s meetings are scheduled for Tuesday in Coralville and Cedar Rapids.