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Gov. Terry Branstad, who is pushing to shift management of the state’s Medicaid program to private companies on Jan. 1, said Thursday that the firms have signed more than 12,000 contracts with pharmacies, doctors and other health care providers. But most Iowa hospitals and physicians have not signed contracts to participate in the new system, according to the Department of Human Services. The issue is important, because the managed-care companies are supposed to show they have broad networks of health care providers willing to care for the new plans' members. (Leys, 11/19)

Legislative Finance Committee members are urging fellow lawmakers to cut spending for indigent health care and other purposes — such as drug courts — so the state can increase Medicaid funding. State Medicaid program managers are requesting $1.1 billion — or an increase of $86 million — for Medicaid funding in fiscal year 2016-17. The money would help pay for an expansion of Medicaid, covering New Mexico residents who formerly were not eligible. A report by the finance committee’s staff said the expansion would cost $43 million more by 2016-17 and up to $163 million more by 2020. (Nott, 11/19)