Iowa AG’s pause on paying for rape survivors' medication continues, payments pile up

Iowa AG’s pause on paying for rape survivors’ medication continues, payments pile up

Over $7,000 in reimbursement requests remain pending as victim services audit hits fifth month.

Liam Halawith, Senior Politics and News Editor

August 24, 2023

Candidate for Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird delivers a speech after being elected during a watch party for Iowa Republicans on Election Day at the Hilton Downtown in Des Moines on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022. Bird defeated Tom Miller in this year’s election.

More than 160 requests for reimbursement for emergency contraception and abortion care for rape survivors remain pending five months after Iowa Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird announced an audit of the Attorney General’s Victims Services Department.

This audit resulted in the temporary pause of reimbursement to Iowa hospitals and pharmacies for emergency contraception and abortion care for rape survivors.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors will soon vote to potentially provide funding to pay for services for survivors of rape.

“Iowans are suffering at the hands of their state leaders because of the dangerous policies they are implementing that disregard basic humanity,” Ruth Richardson, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said in a news release on Thursday.

Pending requests for the Crime Victim Compensation Fund total more than $7,500, according to a news release from Planned Parenthood of the North Central States.

“It’s unjust and unfair that sexual assault survivors are being put in this position,” Richardson said. “The last thing they should have to worry about is affording the care they need after being attacked. They need compassionate, comprehensive care and the attorney general is cruelly putting that out of reach.”

The Crime Victim Compensation Fund is funded by fines and penalties paid by convicts, not taxpayer dollars. Bird signaled in a recent appearance on Iowa Press that she intends to make the pause on payments for emergency contraception and abortion services permanently.

About the Contributors

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor

he/him/his

Liam Halawith is a third-year student at the University of Iowa studying Journalism and Mass Communication and minoring in Public Policy. Before his role as Politics Editor Liam was a politics reporter for the DI. Outside of the DI Liam has interned at the Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Southeast Iowa Union. This is his second year working for the DI.

Jerod Ringwald, Creative Director

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Jerod Ringwald is the Creative Director at The Daily Iowan. He is a senior at the University of Iowa majoring in journalism and cinema. He was previously a managing editor this past summer as well as a former photo editor. During his sophomore year, he worked as a photojournalist covering news and sports.