DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds today praised the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for their new “Health Adult Opportunity” (HAO) initiative, that would provide states with significantly greater flexibility to improve health outcomes for their Medicaid populations.
“States like Iowa are laboratories for innovation and policy reform because governors know what’s best for their individual states,” said Gov. Reynolds. “Medicaid block grants will give states the flexibility to improve systems and provide better outcomes for people who rely on this care. I appreciate Administrator Verma and CMS for giving us more options to better serve Iowans.”
The HAO, which was announced yesterday by CMS Administrator Seema Verma, puts patients first through state flexibility, accountability, and patient protections. In exchange for additional flexibility, states would agree to increased accountability for outcomes. HAO will also give states more negotiating power to manage drug costs.
Read more about “Healthy Adult Opportunity” here.