Iowa to accept $7 million health-care overhaul grant

Gov. Terry Branstad said Tuesday he will allow the state to accept a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assist Iowa in establishing a health insurance exchange as part of federal health-care reform, The Des Moines Register reported. Though Iowa joined 25 other states in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a Branstad spokesman said the grant money is a way to prepare for the possibility that the law will be upheld. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in that case in March. Iowa is among 13 states announced yesterday that will receive grants totaling nearly $220 million. Of those states, Iowa and six others are also challenging the law.

 

Gov. Terry Branstad said Tuesday he will allow the state to accept a $7 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to assist Iowa in establishing a health insurance exchange as part of federal health-care reform, The Des Moines Register reported. Though Iowa joined 25 other states in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a Branstad spokesman said the grant money is a way to prepare for the possibility that the law will be upheld. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in that case in March. Iowa is among 13 states announced yesterday that will receive grants totaling nearly $220 million. Of those states, Iowa and six others are also challenging the law.