Iowa Candidate Questionnaire

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State Gubernatorial

  • Zach Lahn (R)
  • Rob Sand (D)
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Access to Healthcare

Access to affordable, comprehensive healthcare can determine whether you live or die from cancer. Iowa is facing a cancer crisis meaning more Iowans will rely on Medicaid for their cancer care. Medicaid provides a vital safety net for approximately one in five adults newly diagnosed with cancer and has historically been associated with improvements in cancer outcomes. Will you protect access to Medicaid and Medicaid expansion for Iowans?

Zach Lahn

This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.

Rob Sand

Yes

Yes. The privatization of Medicaid has been one of the most disastrous things for our state, and on day one of my administration, I will begin reversing the privatization of Medicaid. After ten years, the system has prioritized profits over the health of Iowa families, reduced access to care for tens of thousands of Iowans, and has been an administrative nightmare. As State Auditor, I audited Iowa’s privatized Medicaid system and found a nearly 900% increase in illegal denials of care after privatization. That’s unacceptable, and one of the best things we can do to improve access to health care is end this decade-long failed experiment and build a system that works for patients. Protecting access to care also means making sure Iowans can get quality health care no matter where they live. Too many Iowans in rural communities live miles away from the nearest hospital, clinic, or specialist, creating barriers to timely care. We should support our remaining rural hospitals and clinics while expanding access to telehealth services by ensuring health care provided through telehealth is covered at the same rate as in-person care, including audio services. The One Big Beautiful Bill passed at the federal level puts access to health care for 110,000 Iowans at risk and threatens rural hospitals – a few facilities have already closed – yet all of our federal representatives voted for it. That’s politics, not public service.

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Breast Cancer Screening

Prevention and screening are vital for finding and treating cancer early when it is easy to treat, and survival is more likely. Many women find themselves stuck with a large bill after completing a follow up imaging test needed after an abnormal mammogram. Iowans often skip their follow up screening due to these cost barriers. Do you support removing cost sharing for follow up testing for breast cancer screenings?

Zach Lahn

This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.

Rob Sand

Yes

Too many Iowans face barriers to getting care before it’s too late. It’s a heck of a lot cheaper to prevent cancer than it is to treat it. Prevention and early detection save lives, and we should be making it easier — not harder — for Iowans to access the screenings and follow-up care that can catch cancer earlier and improve outcomes. No Iowan should skip a necessary test because of cost. As governor, I will work to reverse the failed privatization of Medicaid and expand telehealth services so more Iowans can access affordable, quality health care when they need it.

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Cancer Vaccine

Iowa has the second highest cancer rate in the country. Iowa has been successful in reducing the impact of HPV by promoting the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine is cancer prevention. It prevents six types of cancer – including 90% of cervical cancers. Will you protect access to this cancer prevention method?

Zach Lahn

This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.

Rob Sand

Yes

Absolutely. I support a policy that balances public health with the rights of individuals. Iowans should consult their physicians to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. At the same time, we've recently seen diseases like measles reappear in Iowa. If we want to stop diseases that have already been eradicated from coming back into our communities, then we should rely on safe vaccines, including HPV vaccines. We should also take people’s concerns seriously, without giving up effective disease prevention tools. Vaccines save lives, and I’m in favor of using tools that save lives.

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Tobacco Prevention

According to the Key Drivers of Cancer in Iowa Project, Iowa has higher incidences of lung cancer and mortality than the U.S. AND our Midwest neighbors. Raising the cigarette tax is the single most effective public health policy proven to reduce lung cancer rates. Would you support increasing the tax on cigarettes by $1.50 per pack to reduce Iowa's lung cancer rates and increase the tax on other tobacco and nicotine products to 50% of wholesale price?

Zach Lahn

This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.

Rob Sand

We should be willing to look at every tool that helps Iowans kick unhealthy habits and tackles our state's cancer crisis. We can't ignore the fact that lung cancer is one of the biggest drivers of Iowa's rising cancer rates, and smoking dramatically increases the risk. That's why we need to stop underfunding tobacco prevention and education programs and start investing in what we know works instead of hoping the problem goes away on its own.

Iowa's cigarette tax is currently below the national average. I support raising the cigarette tax to discourage usage. Even increasing it by 55 cents per pack would still leave us below the national average while generating tens of millions of dollars that could help fund essential services and prevention efforts. We also know tobacco use isn’t the only piece of the puzzle. Radon is a major contributing factor in lung cancer, and Iowa has one of the highest rates of radon in the country. In my “Healthier Iowa for All” plan, I call for investing in radon testing, including requiring home sale contracts to provide a radon warning and offering testing during the home inspection process.

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This candidate has not yet responded to the ACS CAN questionnaire.

Disclaimer: This questionnaire is for informational and educational purposes only and is intended to educate voters on candidates’ stances on issues relevant to our organization’s mission. ACS CAN is strictly nonpartisan and does not support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views expressed in these responses are solely those of the candidates and do not reflect the views or positions of ACS CAN.