HF 990 establishes a licensing process for medical cannabidiol (CBD) dispensaries in Iowa. The bill requires the state department to issue requests for proposals and license up to five dispensaries (with potential for up to ten) by April 1, 2018, and renew licenses by December 1 each year. It directly affects businesses seeking to operate medical CBD dispensaries by setting caps on the number of licenses and defining the application timeline. The key provision is the structured annual licensing system to regulate the distribution of medical CBD products within the state.
HF 648 allows dentists in Iowa to obtain a "licensed sedation provider host permit" to employ qualified sedation providers during dental procedures. To qualify, dentists must complete a board-approved course covering patient assessment, emergency response, and sedation management; meet facility/equipment standards; and hold advanced cardiac life support certification. A permitted dentist may then employ licensed physicians, anesthesiologists, or nurse anesthetists to administer moderate sedation to patients aged 13 or older during outpatient dental care, while monitoring patient safety. The Iowa Dental Board will annually review and approve sedation training courses to ensure they meet specific educational standards before issuing permits.
HF 385 requires hospitals and facilities treating involuntarily committed mental health patients in Iowa to implement specific discharge protocols. Before releasing a patient, facilities must refer them to an administrative services organization, assess suicide risk, provide a 15-day supply of prescribed medications (with reimbursement options if not covered), and create a detailed discharge report including care plans, medication lists, and appointment details. This bill directly affects hospitals, patients under involuntary commitment, and administrative services organizations responsible for coordinating post-discharge care. The law also mandates quarterly reports from these organizations to the state department and requires facilities to notify courts of discharges for confirmation.
House File 995 amends Iowa's medical cannabidiol laws. This bill removes the current requirement that an individual must be a resident of Iowa to receive a medical cannabidiol registration card. It achieves this by striking specific code sections that mandate Iowa residency and by removing the word "Iowa" from references to a patient's residence address when applying for the card. As a result, non-residents of Iowa would become eligible to obtain a medical cannabidiol registration card in the state.
HF 1038 allocates funds from Iowa's opioid settlement to state agencies addressing the opioid crisis, directly affecting programs that provide treatment, prevention, and recovery services. The bill specifies how the money is distributed (disbursed) to eligible state entities and includes rules for when the funding takes effect, including retroactive application for prior periods. It does not change eligibility for the settlement funds but establishes the legal framework for their use. The bill passed unanimously and was signed into law by the Governor on June 6, 2025.
HF 383 would remove the pharmaceutical form of psilocybin (specifically crystalline polymorph COMP 360) from Iowa's Schedule I controlled substances list once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it and reschedules it under federal law. This would allow doctors to legally prescribe, distribute, and market COMP 360 for medical use, directly affecting healthcare providers and patients seeking this treatment. The bill automatically aligns Iowa law with federal FDA decisions on this specific pharmaceutical formulation. Note: The bill was vetoed by the governor on June 11, 2025, so it has not become law.
HF 330 requires health insurance plans to cover evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for individuals diagnosed with ASD. It directly affects people with ASD who have health insurance, mandating that insurers provide this coverage without excessive cost-sharing. The bill establishes specific requirements for insurance companies to include ASD treatment services in their coverage, applying to most health insurance plans. This law, signed by the Governor on June 11, 2025, ensures that individuals with ASD can access necessary treatment through their insurance.
SF 383 requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to disclose drug pricing details and standardized fee structures to pharmacies and insurers. It limits certain PBM practices that affect prescription drug costs and establishes transparency rules for pharmacy services administrative organizations. The law directly affects PBMs, pharmacies, and insurance companies managing prescription drug benefits. Signed into law by the Governor on June 6, 2025, it aims to increase transparency in drug pricing and pharmacy billing.
This bill enacts changes across several areas overseen by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. It introduces definitions for "behavioral health districts" and "disability access points" and establishes new restrictions on who can serve as an advocate for involuntarily hospitalized patients, excluding those affiliated with administrative services organizations (ASOs) or care providers. The bill also updates child foster care laws to formally include "approved kinship caregivers" alongside licensed foster parents, granting them decision-making authority under the "reasonable and prudent parent standard" and ensuring their participation in care planning. These provisions directly affect individuals receiving mental health and disability services, children in foster care, and the various organizations involved in providing these services.
HF 310 strengthens penalties for assaults targeting specific professionals, including healthcare providers. The bill makes existing assault penalties applicable when attacks occur against individuals working in certain occupations, such as healthcare. It directly affects individuals in these professions by ensuring assaults against them face the same legal consequences as other violent crimes. The key provision clarifies that penalties for assaulting these workers will be enforced without additional modifications to existing law.
