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Iowa Gov. wants to meet with feds on health plan

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September 18th, 2013 by Ric Hanson

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad is seeking to meet with federal officials in Washington to urge them to approve Iowa’s proposal to expand low-income health care. Branstad aide Michael Bousselot says Wednesday that meeting details are being finalized for next week when Branstad will be in Washington.

State lawmakers in May approved legislation that accepts federal funding to create a new health plan for some poor residents and to pay the premiums for other low-income Iowans to get private insurance on the new health care exchanges. Branstad submitted the plan to federal authorities for approval last month.

The new health care marketplaces are opening for enrollment on Oct. 1. Bousselot said state officials are still negotiating some plan details, but expect approval by then.