#Medicaid spending plan

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Senate has approved a measure that calls for spending $1.1 billion on Medicaid, a program shared with the federal government that provides health care for poor and elderly people.

The Medicaid spending was part of a $1.5 billion measure funding human services programs. The Senate, controlled by Democrats, approved the measure Wednesday on a 26-23 vote and sent it to the House, which has approved a different version.

Democratic Sen. Jack Hatch of Des Moines argued that more money should be devoted to human services programs but that this wasn't possible because Republican Gov. Terry Branstad and the GOP-controlled House have insisted on capping spending at $5.9 billion in the next fiscal year. Hatch predicted a final version will be agreed to in a House-Senate conference committee.

Read more: http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Iowa-Senate-approves-Medicaid-spending-plan-1435455.php#ixzz1Q2CU9eAN