The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites the public to participate in the annual Iowa Hospital Association’s Legislative Day, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 24. Legislative Day allows area residents to voice their opinion at the state capitol about the government’s role in healthcare policy and funding.
IHA Legislative Day, now in its 16th year, is the largest annual gathering of hospital advocates. The event, sponsored by Iowa Hospital Association, is free to all hospital supporters across the state. The mission is to give hospital advocates the tools and skills needed to directly address issues facing Iowa hospitals with legislators at the Iowa Statehouse. Grinnell Regional Medical Center has been a leader in this program with an average of 40 individuals attending in recent years.
“The state’s financial challenges have put pressure on legislators to consider a hospital provider assessment,” explains Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Depending on many factors, this legislation could help bring in additional federal dollars to support Medicaid services. Preserving Iowa’s Medicaid program – both in terms of services to beneficiaries and payments to healthcare providers – must be a priority for state government, especially in these current economic times. In a time when more citizens are losing employment and insurance, it is in the state’s best interest to not limit access to healthcare services.”
The GRMC Auxiliary has reserved a bus to transport area residents to Legislative Day that will leave Grinnell at 10 a.m. The event begins with lunch at the Polk County Convention Complex. The keynote speaker will be Steffen Schmidt, “Dr. Politics,” Iowa State University professor of political science, pundit, analyst, and commentator.
The agenda also includes a presentation on key health-related legislative issues following the lunch. At 1:15 p.m., the GRMC group plans to meet with State Senator Tom Rielly and State Representatives Eric Palmer and Betty DeBoef.
To sign up for this free event, please call the GRMC volunteer office at 641-236-2588, by Tuesday, Feb. 16.
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