Healthcare Day at the State Capitol

The Grinnell Regional Medical Center Auxiliary invites the public to participate in the annual Iowa Hospital Association’s Legislative Day, scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 27. Legislative Day allows area residents to be healthcare advocates about the government’s role in healthcare policy and funding.

This year’s Legislative Day will begin with lunch and program at the new Veterans Memorial Ballroom. The GRMC Auxiliary has reserved a motorcoach to transport area residents to Des Moines. The coach will leave Grinnell at 10 a.m. Greg Boattenhamer, IHA government relations senior vice president, will discuss the 2013 legislative agenda.

Another highlight of the day is meeting with legislators representing the Poweshiek County area. Plans are in the works to meet with State Senator Dave Maxwell and State Representative Guy Vander Linden.  

To sign up for this free event, please call the GRMC volunteer office at 641-236-2588, or email at kolson@grmc.us, by Monday, Feb. 4. 

Legislative Day is the largest annual gathering of healthcare advocates during the year, with more than 1,000 in attendance. The event, sponsored by Iowa Hospital Association, is free to all hospital supporters across the state. The purpose of Legislative Day is to give hospital advocates the tools and skills needed to directly address issues facing Iowa hospitals, healthcare providers, and citizens with their legislators at the Iowa Statehouse. Grinnell Regional Medical Center has been a leader in this program with an average of 40 participants attending in recent years.

“Funding for Medicaid to hospitals and healthcare providers is always under scrutiny for Iowa’s budget,” explains Todd C. Linden, GRMC president and CEO. “Preserving Iowa’s Medicaid program – both in terms of services to beneficiaries and payments to healthcare providers – must continue to be an important funding priority for our state government.” 

The IHA provides legislative papers explaining current healthcare topics. Issues under consideration include behavioral health, health benefit exchanges, quality mandates, and oversight of ambulatory surgery centers.