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Iowa Medicaid Work Requirement Bill Advances; Possible Mumps Case in NE Neb.

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There is a possible case of the mumps in northeast Nebraska. The Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department sent a letter this week to parents in the Laurel-Concord-Coleridge School District about the contagious disease.  The possible case in the school district hasn’t been confirmed yet.  

A bill requiring some Medicaid recipients to work in order to maintain health coverage is moving to the floor of the Iowa Senate after passing in committee today.

People between 18 and 64 years old would have to show they are working or volunteering at least 20 hours per week unless they qualify for an exemption.

Republican Senator Jason Schultz of Schleswig supports adding the rules even though federal statistics show 78 percent of Iowans on Medicaid already work.

"Iowans want to live in a state that’s known for its work ethic and for helping people into a better life."

Opponents say some people could unintentionally lose their health benefits by missing paperwork deadlines. Lawmakers removed a separate part of the bill that would have enforced stricter income limits for food assistance. The Iowa legislature is behind schedule passing funding for K-12 education. An extended delay could create problems coming up with school budgets.

State law sets a deadline to pass education funding within the first 30 days of the session. That time ended last week.

House Republicans are calling for a 2.5 percent base funding increase, which adds up to nearly 20 million dollars more than Senate Republicans’ proposal.

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