DES MOINES, Iowa_Iowa Gov. Chet Culver focused Tuesday on health care, using a Des Moines hospital as a backdrop for his message that the state needs to continue expanding health insurance coverage.

Speaking at a news conference after touring Blank Children's Hospital, Culver noted his support of a multiyear expansion of state health insurance has resulted in coverage for nearly all children from low-income families through Iowa's Medicaid and HAWK-I programs. He promised to make continued expansion a centerpiece of his agenda for the next legislative session, although he didn't offer details.

"We've come a long way but we've got a ways to go," Culver said.

Culver planned to hold a town hall meeting on health care Tuesday afternoon in Iowa City. He'll be joined by health and state officials.

Last session, the Legislature approved the final step in a threefold effort to offer health insurance to virtually all Iowa children. The state expanded funding for a program for children of the working poor to cover families making up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level _ that's $66,200 a year for a family of four.

Culver said nearly 99 percent of Iowa children now are eligible for state health insurance, but he noted that about 25,000 who could seek coverage haven't signed up. The state must work to bring such children into the program, he said.


The governor was accompanied by Kristi Ruth, who suffered a severe arm injury in 2007 at age 15 while helping her father dig holes with an auger on their farm near Chariton. The accident severed an artery and broke her arm in six spots.

After two flights to hospitals, six hours of surgery to transfer a vein from her leg and remove muscles and tendons, and then repeated follow-ups, the family would have faced more than $150,000 in bills. But because they were enrolled in part of Iowa's Hawk-I program, they never paid more than $20 a month.

"All sorts of kids get hurt every day," Ruth said.

Culver said future issues that need to be addressed include more coverage of mental health programs.

Sen. Jack Hatch, D-Des Moines, also spoke at the hospital news conference. Hatch, one of the key backers of the expanded children's coverage, said lawmakers now will look at expanding insurance coverage to adults.

Culver and Hatch acknowledged the state won't be able to accomplish its health care goals unless Congress follows through on efforts to establish a national health care program.

The governor said he would push to expand health care coverage despite budget pressures that have forced him to cut more than $100 million from the state's budget.

"We still provided millions more for health care for kids," Culver said. "Budgets are about priorities."