A bill passed by the Iowa House would require at least 80% of students accepted by the University of Iowa’s medical and dental schools be residents of Iowa. The schools would also have to prioritize Iowa natives as well as those who’ve graduated from Iowa universities for medical residency and fellowship spots in University of Iowa Health Care. Republican Representative Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge says it’s about increasing the number of doctors who practice in Iowa.
Representative Heather Matson, a Democrat from Ankeny, opposed the bill. She cited a Legislative Services Agency estimates that the University of Iowa could lose over five-and-a-half MILLION dollars over the next five years in tuition from out-of-state students and medical residents.
Representative Adam Zabner, a Democrat from Iowa City, says the legislature wouldn’t require 80% of the players on the Hawkeye, Cyclone or Panther football teams to be Iowa residents and it shouldn’t be the standard for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics either.
Meyer says officials in other states like Texas and Florida limit enrollment in medical school to residents of their state.
Iowa residents made up 70% of the most recent classes in the University of Iowa’s medical and dentistry programs. The bill passed the House on a 67 to 28 vote and now goes to the Iowa Senate for review.
