Senate Journal: Page 33: Tuesday, January 11, 2000

  pressures and avoid having to make tough choices, or we could dribble it out
  in a broad
  array of tax cuts, losing forever the opportunity to save health care
  dollars in the
  future and make Iowa a healthier state.  How we decide to invest these
  settlement
  funds will say much about our collective desire to improve the health and
  welfare of
  Iowans.  Let us join together for a healthier Iowa today, where disease,
  illness and the
  after-effects are properly treated or prevented.

  Where the stress and burden of illness and disease experienced by many Iowa
  families is relieved.  If we invest $55 million of tobacco settlement funds,
  we receive an
  immediate return of $100 million of federal resources.  Our investment will
  also pay for
  itself in general funds of health care savings, as we realize millions in
  savings over
  time.  More important than dollars and cents are the lives that will be
  saved.  Here is
  what we must do:

  1. Educate young people not to smoke or convince them to stop smoking
  through an aggressive anti-tobacco and enforcement program as
  proposed by Attorney General Tom Miller; this will save over a thousand
  young lives a year;
  2. Help Iowa's working families provide health insurance for their children
  through HAWK-I insurance and expanded Medicaid eligibility; this will
  impact tens of thousands of our children;
  3. Extend the time of residential substance abuse and mental health
  treatments and give those in need of help a real shot at recovery;
  4. Expand respite care for over one thousand families coping with the
  difficult task of caring for a loved one who is physically or mentally
  challenged, including brain injured loved ones;
  5. Create better access to primary care through stronger public health
  initiatives and from a variety of health care professionals who will be
  better compensated for their efforts; and,
  6. Respond to the Older Iowa Legislature's number one legislative goal by
  using federal funds in setting a national standard with a high quality,
  comprehensive care system for older Iowans needing home health care,
  assisted living, or nursing home care.  A system that leads the nation in
  insuring the maximum level of independence and quality of life for this
  most important group of Iowans.

  Finally, if we are to lead in health care, we must erase the stigma of
  mental illness.
  Mental illness affects one out of every four Iowa families.  A better
  public/private
  partnership must be developed if we are to properly and promptly treat
  mental illness.
  Iowa is the nation's insurance capital.  In that capacity, our state has the
  unique
  responsibility and opportunity to lead-and lead we will, when we establish
  full parity
  for mental illness coverages in insurance policies.  Parity's time in Iowa
  has come.

  Will an improved quality of life and Iowa being a national leader in
  preventative
  health care make a difference and lead to more Iowans, younger Iowans and
  better-
  paid Iowans?  Let me tell you the story of Yukio Strachan from Des Moines.
  Yukio
  came to Drake University's School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences from
  Chicago.
  After receiving her Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 1998, she decided to stay.
  Why?  She
  says a big draw was a good job with Hy-Vee, and the family atmosphere of the
  company.  Also, she believes she has more opportunities in pharmacy here,
  such as
  conducting regular teaching seminars at a residence for senior citizens.
  She expected
  Iowa to be slower-paced than Chicago, but has found herself busier than
  before with

© 2000 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa

Comments about this site or page? sjourn@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.

Last update: Thu Jan 13 08:15:00 CST 2000
URL: /DOCS/GA/78GA/Session.2/SJournal/00000/00033.html
jhf