For too many Iowa families, health care has become a high-stakes balancing act — with rising costs forcing tough choices between prescriptions, telehealth visits, and the rural providers they depend on.
Zoom out: Iowa’s rural health care systems have been under strain for years — from staffing shortages and aging facilities to rising costs. And it’s not just here at home. Nationwide, premiums have surged by 169% in the last decade, even as big health care companies post record profits.
That’s why we passed the Working Families Tax Cuts last year, setting aside $50 billion for rural health care — an investment now reaching Iowa communities. As a result, our state just received $209 million for the Healthy Hometowns program to:
✅ Expand access to telehealth services
✅ Strengthen rural clinics so they can hire and retain health care providers
✅ Keep high-quality care close to home for rural Iowans
I joined the Todd Starnes show over the weekend to break down what this investment means for Iowa. ⬇️
Reality check: This is real progress — but we’re not done yet. Rural health care depends on having a strong, well-trained workforce to meet the growing needs.
This year, we’re pushing my bipartisan Train More Primary Care Doctors Act and Train More Nurses Act to strengthen Iowa’s medical workforce and ensure families have the care they need, when and where they need it.
Bottom Line: Every Iowan deserves affordable, accessible health care. I’ll keep fighting to strengthen rural hospitals, lower costs, and protect the health care lifelines our communities rely on.