POLITICAL VOICES: Iowa Republicans focused on practical solutions to rural health care problems

I have spent decades in health care, both in clinical settings and in policymaking, and one thing has become crystal clear to me: the best solutions for rural Iowa’s health care challenges come from Des Moines – not Washington, DC.

Under Gov. Kim Reynolds’ leadership, a conservative Iowa legislature and a strong federal partner in President Trump, Iowa is taking bold, results-driven steps to solve the rural health care challenges Iowa families face. While Democrats resort to fearmongering and deception, Republicans here at home are focused on delivering real solutions.

Like every state, Iowa faces a shortage of doctors and health care workers. Rural hospitals are stretched thin, and the cost of care continues to rise. But instead of relying on top-down federal mandates, Iowa is building on a strong foundation to solve problems the right way: by empowering local communities, cutting red tape and investing in people.

That starts with keeping more Iowa-trained doctors in our state. New laws passed by Republicans ensure that medical and dental school slots prioritize Iowans and give preference to residency candidates with Iowa roots. Primary care residencies are now required to offer rural rotations, introducing them to communities that need them most. These smart, targeted reforms directly address the shortage and retention problem.

We’re also expanding access to maternal health care by removing outdated barriers that made it harder to open birthing centers. At the same time, Iowa is adding hundreds of new residency slots, investing in maternal health through enhanced Medicaid reimbursement and streamlining approvals so providers can deliver care more efficiently. These are real investments with real impact for rural families, not just empty rhetoric.

And it’s paying off. WalletHub recently ranked Iowa as the fourth-best state in America to practice medicine and second for opportunity and competition. Those rankings aren’t just numbers on a page, they reflect Iowa’s growing strength in training, recruiting, and retaining top medical talent.

Caring for veterans and disabled Iowans remains a top priority. The new state budget increases funding for home and community-based services, boosts rates for prosthetic and orthotic providers, and invests millions more into the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Iowa Veterans Home. These resources are making a real difference for the Iowans who deserve our deepest respect.

Rural hospitals are also receiving critical support to expand access to specialty care. Recent state grants helped Cass Health, Mahaska Health, and Van Buren County Hospital bring new services closer to home for rural Iowans. And by combining mental health and substance use care into a single Behavioral Health Service System, we’re simplifying access and ensuring more coordinated, effective support.

At the federal level, President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill makes the largest investment in rural health care in American history, more than $50 billion to modernize hospitals, retain staff, and expand services. Importantly, the program trusts communities to decide how best to use those dollars, rather than forcing them into a one-size-fits-all federal mold.

The bill also strengthens Medicaid for the vulnerable including pregnant women, children, seniors, people with disabilities and low-income families, while rooting out waste, fraud and abuse. It cracks down on improper payments and ensures taxpayer dollars are going where they are truly needed.

And it includes commonsense work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. Most Americans agree that if you are able to work, you should either have a job or contribute through community service in order to receive Medicaid benefits. Democrats oppose this, but Iowans know Medicaid must remain an honest program that protects those who truly need it.

Whether you live in a big city or a small town, every Iowan deserves access to affordable, quality health care close to home. Thanks to Gov. Reynolds, Iowa Republicans, and a strong partnership with the Trump administration, rural health care is no longer an afterthought, it’s a top priority.

We’re not done, and we should never be complacent. But the progress is real, and the future is bright. Iowa is proving that strong conservative leadership works. We need to keep going.

Speaker Linda Upmeyer is the Co-Chairwoman of the Republican Party of Iowa and the first woman in Iowa history to serve as Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives, a position she held from 2016-2020. While in the legislature, Upmeyer also served as Chair of the Human ResourcesCommittee responsible for health care legislation and oversight. Linda holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), and worked as an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner (ARNP) for 30 years.