First Evaluation of the IowaCare Program

This report is the first in a series of evaluations of the IowaCare health care program, which is designed to provide health care to low-income adults in Iowa. This evaluation was conducted at the request of the Iowa Department of Human Services (IDHS) as part of their compliance to receive a waiver from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services to operate the IowaCare program. The evaluation includes a set of outcome measures adapted from the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) developed by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a consumer survey that was adapted from the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey. The CAHPS survey is part of a national effort to develop a standardized method to provide consumers and purchasers with information about the quality of health plan. Finally, this evaluation includes focus groups/personal interviews with IowaCare providers. Researchers at The University of Iowa Public Policy Center conducted this study with funding provided by the IDHS and the US Department of Health and Human Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Researchers from the University of Iowa, School of Social Work collaborated on the qualitative component of the research. Information and conclusions presented in this report are the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the views of the IDHS, the CMS, the IowaCare health care providers or the University of Iowa.