Health Care for Health Care Workers

Health Care for Health Care Workers Iowa is focused on securing adequate and affordable health care coverage for all direct-care workers. We are increasing awareness about the health and long-term care workforce shortage in Iowa and working to ensure that actions are taken to address it.

Legislative Commission on Affordable Health Care Plans for Small Businesses & Families

We have been present at every meeting of Iowa’s Legislative Commission on Affordable Health Care Plans for Small Businesses and Families, and have worked to form effective relationships with its members. The committee has met once a month since June 2007. It will finalize its report and submit draft legislation in January 2008.

The goal of HCHCW Iowa has been to make direct-care workers a “face” of the uninsured and underinsured in Iowa, and to ensure that commission members think of this face as they craft their recommendations for legislation.

Health & Long Term Care Workforce Summit

We helped draft the language of HF909 (2007), which required the Iowa Department of Public Health and other agencies of state government to address the issue of workforce shortages in health and long-term care.

As a result of this legislation, a Health and Long Term Care Workforce summit was held in November 2007 to identify issues and trends and to propose strategies to prevent a future crisis. We participated in the summit and helped craft its recommendations dealing with direct-care workers, one of which was to provide health care to all health and long-term care workers.

Presidential Caucuses

We have used the Iowa Presidential caucuses as an opportunity to elevate the conversation about direct-care workers and the need for health care coverage. In the lead-up to the January 2008 caucuses, we provided information and the Iowa CareGivers Association’s Real People/Real Stories video (wmv) to each candidate’s campaign.

In addition, HCHCW staff have talked to state-based campaign staff, direct-care workers have appeared at Presidential candidate forums and town hall meetings, and direct-care workers and their supporters have been encouraged to participate in their local caucuses to insure that their needs are addressed.

Divided We Fail

In addition, through our relationship with the Iowa CareGivers Association, we have partnered with the AARP/SEIU/Business Roundtable Divided We Fail activities in Iowa. Divided We Fail highlights the need for better health care and greater financial security for direct-care workers and others.