Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 2543: A bill for an act relating to subacute mental health care facilities and services, and including effective date provisions.

HF 2543 updates rules for specialized mental health care facilities in Iowa. It requires facilities to create a written treatment plan within 24 hours of a patient's admission, eliminates a previous 10-day limit on stays, and prohibits insurance companies from requiring prior authorization for the first 15 days of care. The bill also mandates that insurers cover subacute mental health services and prevents discharges until a mental health professional confirms appropriate support systems are in place to prevent harm. Additionally, it establishes an electronic bed-tracking system for children's psychiatric facilities and adjusts facility staffing and bed capacity requirements to ease access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for subacute mental health services, removes prior authorization barriers for 15 days, requires timely treatment plans, and prevents premature discharges - directly expanding access and protecting patient rights in ment...95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2262: A bill for an act creating the Iowa our care, our options Act, and providing penalties.

This bill creates a legal framework for terminally ill Iowa residents to request physician-prescribed medication for self-administration to end their life, known as "medical aid in dying." It requires patients to make two oral requests to their attending provider, obtain medical confirmation from a second provider, and undergo a 15-day waiting period. The law mandates that providers discuss all end-of-life care options (including hospice and palliative care) and confirms the patient's mental capacity to make an informed decision. The "Iowa Our Care, Our Options Act" establishes safeguards against coercion and requires providers to honor patient autonomy in end-of-life care planning.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates legal framework for medical aid in dying, requiring providers to discuss all end-of-life options including hospice/palliative care, expanding patient choice within healthcare access.90% confidence

Track

signed · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 2707: A bill for an act relating to alignment of delivery of health and human services programs and services, aging and disability services, and volunteer services, and including applicability and effective date provisions.

HF 2707 creates "Health and Human Services Districts" (HHS districts) across Iowa to streamline the delivery of health, aging, disability, and volunteer services. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services will divide the state into these geographic, multicounty areas (initially matching existing behavioral health districts), with districts reviewed every seven years to adjust for population needs and service access patterns. The bill establishes new definitions, requires the department to adopt rules for administration, and specifies that district modifications cannot be subject to judicial review. This structural change affects how state services are organized and delivered across Iowa’s counties, though it does not alter specific service programs or funding.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates HHS districts to streamline health, aging, disability, and mental health service delivery, improving access through geographic organization and population-adjusted reviews.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 11, 2026

HF 2412: A bill for an act relating to prior authorization exemptions for certain health care providers for specific health care services.

HF 2412 is an Iowa bill that creates automatic exemptions from prior authorization requirements for healthcare providers who consistently meet high approval rates for specific services. It directly affects healthcare providers and health carriers: providers qualify for exemptions if 95%+ of their prior authorization requests for a service were approved during the previous evaluation period (a three-month timeframe), eliminating the need to seek approval for that service. Health carriers must notify providers of exemptions within five days, and exemptions last until a retrospective review shows less than 95% of claims met medical necessity standards, at which point carriers can rescind the exemption after 30 days. The bill includes specific procedures for evaluations, appeals, and clear notification requirements to ensure transparency.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts providers with 95%+ approval rates from prior authorization, reducing administrative barriers and improving patient access to care by eliminating unnecessary approval steps.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HSB 654: A bill for an act prohibiting specified provisions in agreements between employers and health care providers relating to location of practice.

This bill prohibits employment agreements from restricting health care providers' ability to practice at hospitals in rural areas or critical access hospitals after leaving a job. It directly affects licensed health care providers (like doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists) in Iowa who may have signed contracts with former employers. The key provision voids any location-based restrictions in such agreements upon termination, except for rules limiting patient solicitation. The law applies to all agreements made before, on, or after the bill's effective date. It does not change existing rules about restricting patient contact.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves restrictions preventing healthcare providers from practicing in rural/critical access hospitals, improving patient access to care in underserved areas.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits location restrictions in health care employment contracts, protecting providers' right to practice in rural areas post-termination, advancing employment rights for workers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

Track

introduced · Iowa · House Feb 9, 2026

HF 2347: A bill for an act relating to requirements for immunization exemption notifications by public health agencies.

HF 2347 requires public health agencies and schools in Iowa to include clear information about medical and religious exemptions to vaccine requirements in specific communications. This includes posting exemption details on agency and school websites, including them in registration materials for schools and childcare centers, and sharing them directly with parents or guardians when schools or health agencies communicate about immunization recommendations. The bill directly affects public health agencies, schools, childcare centers, and parents/guardians of students enrolled in these institutions. It does not change exemption eligibility but mandates consistent, accessible disclosure of existing exemption options through multiple channels. The policy ensures families receive standardized information about vaccine exemptions when enrolling children or receiving health communications.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires clear immunization exemption communication, enhancing public health transparency and access to vaccine programs without restricting options.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

Track

signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 9, 2026

SF 2198: A bill for an act relating to the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney for health care.

This bill clarifies the authority of a health care decision-maker (attorney in fact) appointed under a durable power of attorney for health care in Iowa. It requires the decision-maker to follow the person's expressed wishes as written in the power of attorney, a separate life-sustaining procedures declaration, or communicated directly to them. The bill specifies that verbal requests to others or other documents cannot restrict the decision-maker's authority unless the power of attorney document explicitly states limitations. If the person's wishes are unknown, the decision-maker must act in their best interests based on medical condition and prognosis.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies healthcare decision-maker authority to follow patient's expressed wishes, protecting patient autonomy in medical decisions per bill's explicit language.95% confidence

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2449: A bill for an act authorizing school districts to enter into agreements with cities and counties for the purpose of jointly procuring a group health insurance plan, nonprofit group hospital service plan, nonprofit group medical service plan, or group life insurance plan.

HF 2449 allows Iowa school districts to partner with cities and counties to jointly purchase group health insurance, nonprofit hospital plans, nonprofit medical plans, or group life insurance for their employees. Currently, school districts can only partner with other school districts or area education agencies for these plans, but this bill expands that option to include municipal and county governments. The key change is amending Iowa Code 279.12 to explicitly permit these new agreements, while clarifying they won't be classified as federal "multiple employer welfare arrangements." This directly affects school districts, cities, and counties seeking cost-effective health insurance solutions for their workforce.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands school districts' ability to jointly procure health insurance plans with municipalities, increasing access to coverage options for employees through broader partnership opportunities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

Track

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HSB 672: A bill for an act enacting the athletic trainer compact.

This bill creates the Iowa Athletic Trainer Compact, allowing state-licensed athletic trainers to practice across participating states without obtaining new licenses. It directly affects licensed athletic trainers, military families needing to relocate, and patients seeking consistent care. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses between member states, streamlined interstate practice, reduced administrative burdens, and support for telehealth services. The compact preserves each state's regulatory authority while enabling trainers to work in other member states under uniform requirements. It also includes specific protections for military members and their spouses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill enables interstate practice for athletic trainers, improving patient access to consistent care and supporting telehealth services under health-related professions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Telehealth

Track

signed · Iowa · House Jun 2, 2026

HF 2498: A bill for an act enacting the interstate podiatric medical licensure compact.

HF 2498 creates an interstate agreement (compact) allowing podiatrists to obtain licenses more easily in multiple participating states. It establishes a "state of principal license" (where the podiatrist lives, practices most, or is employed) and requires them to follow that state's licensing rules while treating patients in other member states. The compact does not change existing state laws but adds a streamlined pathway for licensure, requiring podiatrists to have an unrestricted license, pass background checks, and meet eligibility standards like passing national exams. This directly affects podiatrists seeking to practice across state lines and ensures patient safety by maintaining state jurisdiction where care occurs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines interstate podiatry licensure, improving provider access across states without altering healthcare coverage or funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Tags Licensing