Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 303: A bill for an act relating to prior authorization and utilization review organizations.

HF 303 modifies rules for insurance company approvals (prior authorization) and the organizations that review medical treatment requests (utilization review organizations). It directly affects healthcare providers, insurers, and patients by changing how prior authorization requests are processed. The bill establishes specific timeframes for reviews and requires utilization review organizations to follow standardized procedures. This aims to reduce delays in patient care while maintaining oversight of treatment appropriateness. The legislation passed unanimously and was signed into law by the Governor on May 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces delays in prior authorization processing, improving patient access to timely care while standardizing insurer review procedures.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · Senate May 19, 2025

SF 565: A bill for an act providing for the continuation of health insurance in certain circumstances for the surviving spouse and each surviving child of employees of the state of Iowa and including retroactive applicability provisions.

SF 565 provides for the continuation of health insurance coverage for the surviving spouses and children of employees of the state of Iowa. This bill ensures that these family members can maintain their health insurance benefits under specific conditions after the employee's death. It also includes provisions for retroactive applicability, meaning it could apply to past situations. The aim is to offer continued health coverage to these surviving families.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnsures continued health insurance coverage for surviving dependents of state employees, protecting existing benefits without coverage gaps per bill's purpose.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends health insurance benefits to surviving dependents of state employees, protecting family welfare after death under labor & employment subject category.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · Senate May 19, 2025

SF 474: A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations for youth involved in juvenile delinquency and child in need of assistance proceedings; the licensing and certification of certain residential facilities; the provision of home and community-based services and habilitation services to certain youth by residential programs; administration and supervision of juvenile court services; and the suspension of Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions.

This bill updates laws concerning services and support for youth under 21, especially those involved in involuntary commitment, juvenile delinquency, or child and family in need of assistance proceedings. It revises regulations for psychiatric medical institutions for children (PMICs), updating definitions and requiring them to provide comprehensive care that includes physical assessments and behavioral health evaluations. The bill also addresses the licensing and certification of other residential facilities, the provision of home and community-based services to youth, and the administration of juvenile court services. Finally, it modifies Hawki eligibility for inmates of public institutions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill improves rehabilitation services for youth in juvenile delinquency, enhancing treatment and behavioral health evaluations to support criminal justice reform and reduce recidivism.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands behavioral health services, requires physical assessments, and strengthens care for youth in juvenile proceedings, improving access to mental health support.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 19, 2025

HF 806: A bill for an act relating to peer review committees and organ procurement organizations.

This bill updates state law by expanding the definition of a "peer review committee." It specifically includes statewide nonprofit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) within this definition. This change grants OPOs the same legal status and protections typically afforded to other peer review committees, such as those in hospitals or medical societies. The bill directly affects organ procurement organizations operating in the state by formally recognizing their internal review processes under this designation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens healthcare oversight by expanding peer review protections to organ procurement organizations, improving quality assurance in medical procedures.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 6, 2025

HF 471: A bill for an act modifying provisions related to school concussion and brain injury policies.

This bill modifies Iowa's existing law concerning school concussion and brain injury policies. It specifically expands the definition of "licensed health care provider" for the purpose of clearing students to return to extracurricular interscholastic activities after experiencing a concussion or brain injury. Under this bill, a person who holds a doctorate in psychology with specialty training in neuropsychology or concussion management would be added to the list of professionals who can provide such clearance. This change directly affects students participating in school activities and the range of medical professionals involved in their return-to-play protocols.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands who can clear students to return to activities after concussion, protecting student health and ensuring safe participation in school programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands the definition of licensed healthcare providers to include neuropsychologists, improving access to specialized care for concussion management in schools.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 1, 2025

HF 919: A bill for an act relating to children’s specialty hospital designations for certain nonprofit organizations, and including effective date provisions.

House File 919 creates a new "specialty hospital" designation for certain nonprofit organizations in Iowa that were previously licensed nursing facilities. These hospitals must primarily serve individuals aged 30 and younger, with a high percentage of patients receiving Medicaid, and specialize in pediatric rehabilitation or complex medical/behavioral health needs. The bill directs state departments to grant qualifying entities a provisional general hospital license by July 1, 2025, enabling them to receive enhanced hospital-based reimbursement set at their average allowable per diem costs. It also allows for waivers from certain hospital facility requirements, construction standards, and exemptions from providing specific emergency, laboratory, or pathology services beyond what they currently offer. Furthermore, the bill permits the redesignation of nursing facility beds to specialty hospital beds and expansion up to 100 beds.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates new specialty hospital designation for pediatric rehabilitation and behavioral health, expanding healthcare access for children and strengthening nonprofit healthcare services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

passed · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 977: A bill for an act relating to the expansion of the ground emergency medical transportation program.

House File 977 expands the ground emergency medical transportation (GEMT) program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to employ dedicated staff to increase enrollment of eligible GEMT providers. These staff will offer technical assistance, actuary support, and help with Medicaid enrollment to providers seeking to participate. The department is also directed to develop the program to ensure access to emergency medical services statewide. Additionally, an annual report on the program's status, including enrollment numbers and barriers, must be submitted to the general assembly.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands GEMT program, increases provider enrollment via Medicaid assistance, and ensures statewide emergency medical access.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands ground emergency medical transportation program, directly enhancing access to emergency medical services via transportation infrastructure, aligning with transportation policy focus.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · Iowa · House Apr 24, 2025

HF 1000: A bill for an act providing for the establishment of a veterans service organization grant program, and making appropriations.

HF 1000 establishes a veterans service organization grant program and fund under the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program provides matching funds to eligible veterans service organizations to help them employ staff. These staff members are specifically tasked with assisting veterans in filing claims. To receive a grant, organizations must demonstrate they have budgeted their own funds, and the bill initially appropriates $250,000 to the fund for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $250,000 for veterans service grants, directly funding a state program under budgetary authority.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAssists veterans in filing healthcare claims, improving access to VA benefits and support services.80% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes grant program funding veterans service orgs to assist with claim filings, directly advancing veteran benefits access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

passed · Iowa · House Apr 22, 2025

HF 807: A bill for an act creating the compassion and care for medically challenging pregnancies Act.

House File 807, the "Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act," establishes a framework for supporting pregnant women diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly. The bill allows healthcare practitioners to inform these women about available perinatal hospice services and offer referrals. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to compile and post a geographically organized list and information sheet about perinatal hospice services in Iowa and nationally, available in both English and Spanish, on its website.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates healthcare providers to inform patients about perinatal hospice services and requires state to compile service listings, improving access to specialized pregnancy care.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 18, 2025

SF 397: A bill for an act relating to assaults, including assaults on persons engaged in certain occupations and inmate assaults on department of corrections employees, and providing penalties.

This bill increases penalties for individuals who commit assaults against specific professionals, including peace officers, correctional staff, healthcare providers, firefighters, and certain state employees. It upgrades assaults intended to inflict serious injury or involving a dangerous weapon from a Class D to a Class C felony. Additionally, assaults causing bodily injury or mental illness against these professionals are elevated from an aggravated misdemeanor to a Class D felony. Other assaults, such as those causing contact with saliva, are reclassified from a serious to an aggravated misdemeanor, and carry a mandatory minimum 7-day jail sentence that cannot be suspended.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assaults on law enforcement and correctional staff, strengthening protections for criminal justice workers.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill strengthens protections for healthcare providers by increasing penalties for assaults against them, thereby safeguarding medical professionals.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare