Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 300: A bill for an act enacting the physician assistant licensure compact.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves licensing barriers for physician assistants across states, improving healthcare access and provider mobility without additional requirements.90% 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 · Senate May 19, 2025

SF 233: A bill for an act relating to the right to try Act.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient access to investigational treatments by broadening eligibility criteria, enhancing healthcare options for those with life-threatening conditions.90% 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

passed · Iowa · Senate May 15, 2025

SF 315: A bill for an act relating to pharmacy benefits manager reverse auctions and group insurance for public employees and including effective date provisions.

SF 315, known as the "Iowa Competitive Pharmacy Benefits Managers Marketplace Act," aims to reduce prescription drug costs for public employees in self-funded state health plans. The bill mandates that the state department procure pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) services through a "reverse auction" process. This online, competitive bidding system allows PBMs to offer progressively lower prices for their services. Additionally, the department must acquire a technology platform to conduct these auctions and perform detailed, line-by-line audits of PBM claims to ensure contract compliance. The first PBM contract awarded through this new system is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates reverse auctions for PBMs to reduce prescription drug costs in public employee health plans, directly lowering healthcare expenses for covered populations.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill reduces prescription drug costs for public employees' health benefits, enhancing employment-related benefits under group insurance standards.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

Track

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 6, 2025

HF 875: A bill for an act relating to health insurers’ credentialing process.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill improves healthcare access by streamlining credentialing processes and requiring timely responses from insurers, enhancing transparency and efficiency for medical professionals.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