Hunter
11/24/25
The state of Iowa has decided that they will leave health care services in the prison system with the state.
The Des Moines Register reports the state was considering privatizing the services due to staff shortages, rising pharmaceutical and transport costs and a need to expand mental health and substance abuse treatment. The Department of Corrections issued a request for proposals in July “to explore future options for health care delivery” as well as to update its electronic health care record system.
The Department announced Thursday the state will not award a contract to any of the companies that applied. In a statement, they said the process reinforced that the department is better off evaluating their current system and finding ways to strengthening it internally rather than rely on outside services.
State officials had faced criticism from state union workers and Democrats over the proposal.
The department has also said its electronic health care record system, which has been in use for more than 20 years, is “long overdue” for an upgrade.