This bill requires various educational institutions, child care providers, and the state's health department to include information about immunization exemptions when communicating about immunization requirements. This directly affects parents, legal guardians, and students who receive these communications.
Specifically, elementary and secondary schools, licensed child care centers, and all other child care facilities must include exemption details in communications to parents and on their websites or registration materials. Community colleges, state universities, and private higher education institutions are also required to adopt policies ensuring students receive exemption information when notified about immunization requirements. Additionally, the state's health department must include exemption information in any public communication following an immunization recommendation.
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.
HF 300 creates a multi-state agreement (compact) allowing physician assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other compact states without needing separate licenses. It directly affects physician assistants seeking to work across state lines and healthcare facilities in participating states. The key provision establishes a standardized licensing process where a license issued by one compact state is recognized by all others in the agreement. This reduces administrative barriers for physician assistants and expands their ability to provide care in multiple states without reapplying for licenses. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 27, 2025.
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.
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.
This bill expands Iowa's "Right to Try" Act by broadening the definition of an "eligible patient." Previously limited to individuals with terminal illnesses, the bill now includes patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses. These patients can access "individualized investigational treatments," which are drugs or products unique to their genetic profile and have successfully completed Phase 1 clinical trials. The bill also defines "eligible facilities" and updates the specific requirements for written informed consent for patients with terminal illnesses.
This bill makes several changes related to emergency services provided by cities. It clarifies that cities can provide compensation, stipends, or benefits to volunteer firefighters and emergency medical care providers even if they hold other city offices. The bill also allows a currently serving city council member to be appointed as a volunteer fire chief, provided they abstain from voting on their own appointment. Furthermore, it permits cities to establish dedicated funds or reserve accounts for acquiring and maintaining major equipment for police, fire, rescue, and emergency medical services. These funds will receive insurance settlements or other payments for damaged emergency equipment, with a provision for reimbursing the city's general fund if it covered initial repair or replacement costs.
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.
House File 875 modifies the credentialing process for health insurers and certain healthcare providers. The bill requires health insurers to respond to credentialing requests from physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners, and physician assistants within 56 calendar days. If a health insurer denies a credentialing request, it must provide the applicant with a written reason for the denial. These changes aim to improve the transparency and efficiency of the process by which these medical professionals become authorized to provide services and receive payment through health insurance plans.
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.
