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Town halls are monthly online meetings where Medicaid members and providers can learn about the program, hear updates, ask questions, and share concerns with the Iowa Medicaid team. These meetings also help Iowa Medicaid gather feedback and find ways to improve.
Dear Friends and Partners,
As the new Iowa Medicaid Director, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself. Prior to beginning this role on September 2, I served as Medicaid Director for the State of Wyoming for two and a half years. In total, I spent 14 years in various leadership roles at Wyoming Medicaid, including approximately six years as Administrator of Home and Community-Based Services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In April 2025, I was honored to be elected by my peers to serve on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Medicaid Directors.
While I am entering this role from out of state, I am not new to Iowa. I grew up in Shenandoah, Iowa, and am thrilled to be back home. I believe my extensive Medicaid leadership experience, combined with my personal roots in rural Iowa, will be an asset in serving Iowa Medicaid.
During my initial months as Medicaid Director, I have been extremely impressed by the quality of leadership and the dedication of the public servants who support the Iowa Medicaid program. Our team is committed to delivering a program that focuses on positive health outcomes, actively engages stakeholders, and makes efficient use of taxpayer dollars.
One of my favorite aspects of this role has been the opportunity to travel across Iowa to meet with providers, advocates, and other stakeholders. These visits allow me to see firsthand the important work being done to serve Medicaid members while also identifying opportunities for improvement. I believe that to be an effective Medicaid leader, it is essential to understand service delivery in action. I have already begun traveling across the state and will continue to prioritize these visits throughout 2026. Thank you to those who have reached out to invite me to visit your organizations and experience the services you provide.
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Looking Ahead
2026 will be a year of both progress and challenges as we continue to support Iowa Medicaid members and providers. Iowa Medicaid is facing budget pressures that will require difficult conversations. Finding creative solutions to sustain essential services statewide in a fiscally constrained environment will be a significant challenge, one shared by many Medicaid programs nationwide as one-time federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act expires. While these discussions will not be easy, I expect them to take place in partnership with the Legislature and stakeholders.
As we move through the new year, I also anticipate significant progress in implementing changes to how Iowa Medicaid serves people with disabilities through our Home and Community-Based Services. Our Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) initiative has been years in the making, and we will be sharing more information soon about specific next steps. Your continued input and feedback are critical as we work to improve access to and the quality of these services statewide.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Iowa Medicaid and for engaging with our agency. I look forward to working with you in service to Iowans and in support of Iowa Medicaid members.
- Lee Grossman, Iowa Medicaid Director
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On Monday, December 29, Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Iowa has been awarded funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, a federal initiative managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Iowa’s innovative proposal, Healthy Hometowns, will receive $209 million for the first year of implementation.
About Healthy Hometowns
Healthy Hometowns is Iowa’s plan to strengthen health care in rural communities by making care more accessible, connected, and patient focused. This initiative is about more than health care. It’s about helping Iowans live healthier lives, closer to home.
Healthy Hometowns includes five key initiatives:
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Hometown Connections: Builds partnerships to expand health care options in rural areas.
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Combat Cancer: A statewide effort to improve cancer prevention, treatment, and outcomes.
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Communities of Care: Supports projects that bring different types of providers together under one roof.
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Health Information Exchange: Makes health records accessible across Iowa so patients can get care wherever they are.
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Community Care Mobile: Invests in telehealth and mobile health care programs, including high-risk maternal transport.
As part of the Hope and Opportunity in Many Environments (HOME) project, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is updating its Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver system. The goal is to make services easier to understand, support people in staying in their homes and communities, and better connect them to the help they need.
Iowa HHS plans to replace the current six disability-based HCBS waivers with two new waivers: the Children and Youth waiver and the Adults with Disabilities waiver. Before these changes can take effect, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must approve the new waivers.
Important Dates
A public comment period for the HOME Project will run from Monday, January 5, 2026, through Friday, February 6, 2026.
Iowa HHS will hold three (3) public comment sessions describing the key updates underway and instructions on how to submit public comments. The sessions are scheduled for the following dates:
 What is a public comment period?
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires states to ask for public comments when they want to change waivers. This gives people who may use the services, along with their families and communities, a chance to share their ideas and concerns. Anyone can send in a public comment.
Once the public comment period begins, all information will be posted on our HOME Project webpage. You will also be notified via email when the materials are released.
Iowa Medicaid currently contracts with two dental plans: Delta Dental of Iowa and MCNA of Iowa. These contracts are set to expire on June 30, 2026.
In February 2025, Iowa Medicaid issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to identify the most qualified dental plans to continue delivering high-quality dental services to Iowans. Following a comprehensive review process, Iowa Health and Human Services (HHS) selected Delta Dental of Iowa and DentaQuest on August 15, 2025, to provide dental services beginning July 1, 2026.
Onboarding a new dental plan requires months of preparation, including training, system testing, and member reassignment. The Iowa Medicaid team has been working diligently on several initiatives to ensure a smooth and seamless transition.
Notable updates include:
- Both Delta Dental of Iowa and DentaQuest will provide coverage for Hawki members.
- Iowa Medicaid is actively developing an exit plan for MCNA.
- Members will begin receiving mailings with additional information about these changes in the coming months.
More details will be shared as the transition progresses to ensure members and providers are well informed.
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Effective September 19, 2025, managed care Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) services are now operated by MTM. As part of this transition, members moved from the Access2Care mobile and web app to the MTM Link Member app. Members who previously used the Access2Care app will see a pop-up message directing them to download the MTM Link Member app.
In addition, all NEMT forms and letters have been updated to reference MTM Health. While the administrator has changed, NEMT benefits and covered services remain the same, the transportation provider network serving Iowa members is unchanged, and the phone numbers used to schedule or update NEMT rides continue to remain the same.
NEMT Scheduling Phone Numbers
The same service is also available online at https://mtm.mtmlink.net/
Providers in Iowa have access to free, on-demand trainings! Explore a few opportunities below:
Competency-Based Training and Technical Assistance are available at no cost for Iowa LTSS providers and case managers. Training is offered live or on-demand and focuses on core skills for provider agencies and those who work directly with members.
Trualta is an online learning management system (LMS) to help manage care for individuals at home. Sign up for the learning management system powered by Trualta at this link.
Connor Training Connection: Advancing Community Living
Find additional free training across the state of Iowa here: https://www.disabilitytraining.org/
The Conner Training Connection’s mission is to support Iowans with disabilities in living as fully participating members of their communities through the provision of training resources and technical assistance to individuals, their family members, service providers, and other disability advocates. The Conner mission, in short, is advancing community living.
 Other Helpful Provider Tools
Iowa Medicaid has created a host of tools that help providers obtain information regarding a variety of areas such as enrollment, eligibility, and general Medicaid news for providers.
Iowa Medicaid Portal Access (IMPA)
Iowa Medicaid implemented a provider portal called Iowa Medicaid Portal Access (IMPA) that is managed by the Provider Services unit. IMPA is a web-based tool that allows providers access to multiple different functions that may be needed. Through this tool providers are able to access:
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Managed Care Plan Updates |
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Iowa Total Care had a successful 2025, with many new partnerships and collaborations across our community. Check out some of our biggest partnerships this year below!
4H Clover Kids: Providing toolkits to kids across Iowa
In 2025, Iowa Total Care partnered with the Iowa 4-H Foundation and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach with a $50,000 grant to the reading program, 4-H Clover Kids. With the help of Iowa Total Care’s $50,000 grant, the Clover Kids program will include a new literacy resource that talks about health and wellness while promoting childhood reading. These toolkits will be available to all 100 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach county offices in Iowa
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Reach Out and Read Midwest: Funding and Donating kids books to children
This year, Iowa Total Care provided $10,000 in funding to Reach Out and Read Midwest, a program supporting childhood literacy. Iowa Total Care also donated 10,000 copies each of two Iowa Total Care books: Susie’s Big Day and Doc the Dog. The books were delivered in person, helping thousands of children build early literacy skills and a strong start for kindergarten.
 Central Iowa Shelter & Services: Two new empowerment centers launched
More than a year has passed since Iowa Total Care and Central Iowa Shelter and Services (CISS) teamed up to launch their first groundbreaking Empowerment Command Center in Des Moines, powered by a $2.55 million investment from Iowa Total Care and the Centene Foundation. Since the launch of the first center over a year ago, two more Empowerment Command Centers opened in 2025. CISS now runs three Empowerment Command Centers in Iowa: Grinnell, Ottumwa and Des Moines.
 Interested in learning more? Follow along with us throughout our events this year by reading our quarterly newsletters.
We share newsletters for members and community partners. These newsletters include:
Season of Support
This winter, Molina Healthcare of Iowa connected with communities across the state through its Season of Support campaign, providing resources during the winter months.
Molina Healthcare of Iowa participated in 25 events statewide, partnering with shelters, community kitchens, healthcare providers, and community organizations to reach individuals and families in need.
The events included:
- Warm meals and food bags to help address food insecurity
- Winter safety supplies for unhoused individuals, including coats and winter gear
- Household and cleaning supplies to support healthier living environments
- Meal and food preparation supplies for individuals and families in need
The Season of Support campaign highlights Molina Healthcare of Iowa’s commitment to supporting the health and well-being of Iowans by addressing immediate needs and strengthening community connections.
 Molina Provider Updates
Molina Healthcare of Iowa, Inc. (MHIA) has announced an exciting expansion of its services. Beginning January 1, 2026, we will offer Medicare Advantage Dual Special Needs Population (D-SNP) products in 86 counties!
We have prepared providers and members for this new expansion:
Open enrollment: The open enrollment period for this new Medicare Advantage D-SNP offering commenced in October 2025. During this period, eligible residents signed up for the new plan and ensured they have coverage starting in 2026.
Provider trainings: To ensure that health care providers were prepared for this transition, we initiated training programs over the past few months. We participated in the HHS Annual Provider Trainings in September and October and continued monthly onboarding education for newly contracted providers. We also conducted two Medicare Office Hour sessions in December! These sessions equipped providers with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively manage and support the new Medicare plans.
Stay tuned for more updates and information as we announce our Go-Live and take advantage of the opportunities that this new Medicare Advantage D-SNP offering will bring!
Want regular Molina Iowa provider communications?
We have partnered with ConstantContact to be our provider communications email vendor. The first time you receive an email from this source, you may need to check your spam/junk folder to “accept and release” it. For regular news, updates and announcements, sign up here!
Follow us on Facebook!
Please “Like” our Molina Healthcare of Iowa Facebook page to see all of our community events!
Wellpoint Proudly Sponsors the Iowa Head Start Association
Through our annual sponsorship, Wellpoint is honored to support the work of the Iowa Head Start Association and its programs across the state. Our ongoing commitment to supporting the well-being of children and families throughout Iowa is underscored by this critical partnership.
At the recent Fall Conference held on Nov. 5, 2025, in Ankeny, Wellpoint provided each Head Start program with essential items such as socks, mittens, and gloves.
Groundbreaking news for Iowa’s dental workforce
DMACC held a groundbreaking ceremony in October on a new 26,000-square-foot Dental Building on its Ankeny Campus. The new facility will greatly expand DMACC’s current dental space and increase enrollment capacity by 25 percent, while preserving small class sizes and student-instructor ratios. The building will feature advanced simulation labs, modern classrooms, a public clinic, and student spaces designed to meet Iowa’s urgent need for skilled dental professionals.
Support from partners such as the Delta Dental of Iowa Foundation, which made a $250,000 investment earlier this year, has been instrumental in making the project a reality.
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