RECAP: Josh Turek Joined Community Pharmacists to Call Out Hinson's Attacks on Rural Health Care

RECAP: Josh Turek Joined Community Pharmacists to Call Out Hinson’s Attacks on Rural Health Care

Pharmacists discussed the impacts of Hinson-backed Medicaid and Medicare cuts

Des Moines, IA – Yesterday, Josh Turek continued his “Team Iowa Tour” with a visit to a community pharmacy in Maquoketa to discuss the impact of Medicaid cuts on rural pharmacies. 

“Every day we are seeing patients that show up at our pharmacy that think they have coverage that don’t. And I think the the bottom line of what has happened with HR1 and these $150 billion dollars in Medicaid cuts is, the frosting on the cake was they put $50 billion back into the system in rural health transformation, which sounds like a great idea, but when you are taking $150 billion away and only giving $50 billion back, counties like ours and the patients we serve are affected in a very negative way,” said Matt Osterhaus, community pharmacist.  

“From the start of 2026 to now, we have received more questions regarding Medicaid coverage than I have during the first three years of my career combined. This year brought uncertainty to many of the patients we are serving regarding their health care and medication coverage due to budget cuts to the Medicaid system,” said Kole Gallick, community pharmacist. “I had a patient present to the pharmacy explaining to me that they found out at their dentist appointment that they were no longer receiving coverage under Medicaid.”

“If we fill 100 prescriptions, I think about 15% of the prescriptions are reimbursed to us at our net net cost. So it’s not a sustainable way of doing business. So, we turn to our policy makers to try to fix the reimbursement issues that we’re having. That’s why we’re supporting Josh in his run for the Senate. He understands the pharmacy benefit manager issues here in rural Iowa in the communities that our pharmacies serve, and that’s why we’re supporting him,” said Bob Greenwood, community pharmacist.