HF 2209 requires Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine to admit at least 80% of students who are Iowa residents or attended eligible Iowa colleges. It prioritizes applicants planning to work in Iowa rural communities (under 25,000 people) and specialize in mixed-animal veterinary care. Applicants must disclose their Iowa background and career intentions in their applications. The university must submit annual reports to the legislature detailing admission statistics and reasons for rejections.
HF 2097 requires medical examiners investigating infant deaths (ages zero to three) to include specific immunization details in their reports. The bill mandates that reports request the date and type of the decedent’s last vaccination, and if multiple shots were given at once, all must be listed. This affects medical examiners and healthcare providers who supply immunization records during these investigations. The state medical examiner must later develop implementing rules under Iowa’s administrative procedures.
HF 2114 allows parents or legal guardians to seek substance use or mental health treatment for minors (under 18) without court involvement. The bill amends Iowa law to let guardians apply directly to treatment facilities or healthcare providers for their child's care, with strict confidentiality protections. It prohibits reporting a minor's treatment details to law enforcement without consent and creates penalties for unauthorized disclosure. The bill also specifies that a minor’s admission to treatment cannot be subject to court jurisdiction if the minor and guardian consent. This applies directly to minors needing substance use or mental health services in Iowa.
This bill requires the University of Iowa's College of Nursing to admit at least 80% of its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program students who are Iowa high school graduates (defined as "Iowa residents" for this purpose). It mandates admission priority for these graduates and requires applicants to attest to their Iowa connection (e.g., graduating from an Iowa high school or planning to work in Iowa after graduation). The university must also submit annual reports to the legislature detailing admission statistics for Iowa high school graduates, including reasons for denials, while protecting applicant privacy under federal law. The policy directly affects applicants to the UI nursing program and aims to increase local workforce pipeline.
HF 2010, the "Iowa Pharmaceutical Advertising Transparency and Consumer Protection Act," requires pharmaceutical companies and government entities to disclose key information in television advertisements for prescription drugs and vaccines starting January 1, 2027. Specifically, ads must clearly state the highest cost (either a 30-day supply or full treatment) and list all common and serious side effects in plain language with equal visual and auditory emphasis. Pharmaceutical companies must also wait 12 months after FDA approval before advertising. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation (with daily violations counting separately), enforced by the Attorney General and paid into a consumer protection fund. This bill directly affects drug manufacturers and government health campaigns advertising in Iowa.
HF 2053 standardizes how managed care organizations (MCOs) submit claims and get reimbursed for medical services under Iowa's medical assistance program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create uniform rules for claim processing and reimbursement levels by July 1, 2027, considering efficiency, federal rules, and funding. All existing MCO contracts must be updated to follow this standardized process, and new contracts after July 1, 2027, must include it. This directly affects MCOs managing Medicaid-like programs and healthcare providers who submit claims for patient services.
HF 2057 establishes a permanent annual funding stream for pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa hospitals and clinics. It appropriates $1 per Iowa resident (based on U.S. Census population estimates), capped at $3 million yearly, from the state general fund. The funds must be used exclusively for pediatric cancer research - including lab work and clinical trials - prohibiting administrative costs or unrelated activities. The state board of regents must submit an annual report detailing how the funds were spent to the governor and legislature. This bill directly affects Iowa residents (through funding) and the University of Iowa's pediatric cancer research programs.
This bill requires public health agencies, schools, and child care centers in Iowa to include clear information about medical and religious immunization exemptions in all relevant communications. Specifically, it mandates that exemption details be included in health department recommendations about vaccines, school communications to parents, and registration materials for schools or child care centers. The bill also requires agencies to publish this exemption information on their websites. These changes ensure families receive consistent, accessible information about immunization exemption options when enrolling children in schools or child care.
HF 2040 removes limits on compensation for patients suing healthcare providers in Iowa. It eliminates the $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages (like pain and suffering) for most cases, and removes the exception that previously allowed up to $1 million or $2 million for severe injuries like disfigurement or death. The bill also removes the exclusion of "loss of dependent care" (such as child care costs after a parent's death or injury) from noneconomic damages. Additionally, it strikes provisions requiring that punitive damages be paid to claimants in healthcare cases or to a state trust fund. The law applies to cases filed on or after July 1, 2026.
SSB 3083 updates Iowa's subacute mental health care (SMHC) regulations. It requires SMHC facilities to create a written treatment plan with each resident within 24 hours of admission. The bill also sets time limits for insurance companies to approve coverage requests: 48 hours for urgent cases, 5 days for standard requests, and 10 days for complex cases. Additionally, it directs state health and licensing departments to review and revise rules that hinder SMHC facility growth, including allowing more beds without reclassifying facilities as mental health institutions and easing staffing requirements.
