Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 6, 2026

HF 648: A bill for an act relating to a licensed sedation provider host permit for a dentist.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands dental sedation access by enabling dentists to employ qualified sedation providers under safety standards, improving patient access to dental care services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

introduced · Iowa · Legislature

1057XD: Assaults, Persons Engaged in Certain Occupations and by Inmates (1057XD) - Attorney General

This Iowa bill (1057XD) upgrades penalties for assaults against specific public safety and service workers, including peace officers, correctional staff, healthcare providers, firefighters, and others. It increases penalties to a class "C" felony for assaults with intent to cause serious injury or involving dangerous weapons, and to a class "D" felony for causing bodily injury or mental illness. For inmates, it makes assaults involving bodily fluids (like spitting) against correctional staff a class "D" felony, requiring a minimum seven-day prison sentence. The bill directly affects anyone who assaults these designated workers while knowing their occupation, with stricter penalties than current law.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill upgrades assault penalties to felony for attacks on public safety workers, expanding criminalization and increasing severity of sentencing.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly protects healthcare providers from assault via upgraded penalties, supporting workforce safety in healthcare delivery.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill increases felony penalties for assaults against protected workers (e.g., healthcare, correctional staff), directly enhancing workplace safety protections for specific occupations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 30, 2025

HF 156: A bill for an act raising the limit certain townships may levy for fire protection service and emergency medical service.

HF 156 increases the maximum annual tax rate townships can levy for fire and emergency medical services. Specifically, it raises the limit from 40.5 cents to 91 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value for townships without fire/EMS service agreements with special charter cities and with populations below 300,000. This change directly affects those townships by allowing them to collect higher local funding for these essential services. The bill modifies Iowa Code section 359.43 to update the tax rate thresholds, without altering existing higher limits for townships with city agreements (54 cents) or in counties over 300,000 population (67.5 cents). The policy change provides additional financial flexibility for eligible townships to support fire and emergency medical services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases tax levy cap for fire/EMS services, enabling higher local funding for essential public safety programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases tax funding for emergency medical services (EMS) via higher levy limits, directly strengthening healthcare service provision for essential emergency care.95% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 11, 2025

SF 218: A bill for an act relating to modernization of nutrition programs in the state.

This bill directs Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to modernize state nutrition programs by creating a single application for both WIC (for women, infants, and children) and SNAP (food assistance). Key provisions include enabling remote certification via phone/video calls, streamlining eligibility for applicants enrolled in SNAP or Medicaid, and implementing features like automatic benefit loading to WIC cards and online shopping. The department must seek federal approval for these changes before implementation and submit a report to the legislature within 30 days after six months of the pilot program. The bill affects low-income Iowans who rely on WIC and SNAP benefits, aiming to simplify access and reduce administrative steps.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModernizes nutrition programs (WIC/SNAP) to streamline eligibility and improve access to health-related benefits, aligning with healthcare access goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2025

HF 478: A bill for an act requiring the payment of local prevailing wage rates to persons working on public improvements for public bodies, providing remedies and penalties, and including effective date provisions.

HF 478 requires contractors working on public projects (like roads, schools, or infrastructure) to pay workers the local prevailing wage rate, which includes both hourly pay and benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. It applies to all public bodies (including cities, counties, school districts, and state agencies) and their contractors or subcontractors. The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing will set the prevailing wage rates for each county and enforce compliance, with penalties for violations. The law aims to ensure fair pay standards and prevent undercutting of local wages on public works projects.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires health insurance as part of prevailing wage benefits for public project workers, expanding insurance coverage for this group.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRequires contractors on public projects to pay local prevailing wage rates including benefits, directly strengthening wage protections and workers' rights for public improvement projects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Labor Standards Minimum Wage

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SSB 1174: A bill for an act relating to the establishment of the work without worry program under the medical assistance program for employed individuals with disabilities, and including effective date provisions.

SSB 1174 establishes Iowa's "Work Without Worry" program, allowing employed individuals with disabilities to keep Medicaid coverage while working without losing benefits due to income. It removes standard income and resource limits for eligibility, instead charging a premium of 6% of an individual's "countable income" (basic needs income). The program automatically enrolls people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), covers traditional Medicaid services plus additional community-based supports, and includes a 6-month grace period for temporary job loss. It directly affects Iowans aged 18-65 with disabilities who work and earn taxable income, ensuring continuous health coverage without penalty for employment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid access for employed disabled individuals by removing income limits and preventing benefit loss, ensuring continued healthcare coverage while working.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves Medicaid income barriers for employed disabled workers, enabling continued employment without loss of health coverage, directly advancing labor & employment rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Apr 9, 2025

HF 836: A bill for an act relating to medical income assistance trust fees.

HF 836 increases the monthly allowance for necessary expenses of medical income assistance trusts in Iowa from $10 to $50 per month without requiring court approval. This change directly affects trust beneficiaries who rely on these funds for medical care costs. The bill amends Iowa Code Section 633C.3 to allow trusts to cover more routine expenses without seeking court permission each time. The key provision simplifies administrative processes for managing trust funds while providing greater flexibility for beneficiaries.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases monthly allowance for medical trust beneficiaries from $10 to $50, simplifying access to funds for healthcare costs without court approval.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate May 6, 2025

SSB 1237: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the department of veterans affairs and the department of health and human services, and related provisions and appropriations, including aging and disability services; behavioral health, public health, community access and eligibility; the medical assistance program, state supplementary assistance, Hawki, and other health-related programs; family well-being and protection; state-operated specialty care; administration and compliance; transfers, cash flows, and nonreversions; prior appropriations; the beer and liquor control fund, and the behavioral health fund; report on nonreversion of moneys; emergency rules; more options for maternal support program; and a hospital directed payment program; and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

SSB 1237 is an appropriations bill that allocates state funds for the fiscal year 2025-2026 to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services. It provides funding for veteran services, including the Iowa Veterans Home and a home ownership assistance program, directly benefiting veterans and their families. The bill also supports aging and disability services, behavioral health programs for addiction prevention and treatment, and various public health initiatives, impacting seniors, individuals with disabilities, and those seeking health services. Key provisions include funding for a maternal support program and a hospital directed payment program, with some moneys drawn from specific funds like the sports wagering receipts fund.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state funds for FY2025-2026 to veterans, health, and disability services, directly increasing government spending on public programs through appropriations.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds for behavioral health, public health, aging/disability services, and medical assistance programs under HHS appropriations, directly advancing healthcare funding and access.92% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAllocates state funds for Iowa Veterans Home and home ownership assistance program, directly benefiting veterans and families per summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Substance Abuse Veteran Benefits

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passed · Iowa · House Jan 22, 2026

HF 986: A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the department of insurance and financial services, the utilities commission, and the department of transportation, including financial literacy and exploitation, tax confidentiality, health insurance rates, health savings accounts, insurer withdrawals, property insurance, service contracts, the Iowa individual health benefit reinsurance association, and the Iowa cemetery Act, motor vehicle financial liability coverage, and including penalties and effective date provisions.

HF 986 establishes new funds and initiatives to enhance financial literacy and prevent financial exploitation for the public. It creates a Financial Literacy and Investor Education Fund and a Financial Exploitation Prevention Fund, which are partially funded by reallocating a portion of agent registration fees. The bill also establishes a Senior Health Insurance Information Program Fund to provide educational materials on health insurance for older Iowans. These provisions aim to educate Iowans on financial topics and assist potential victims of financial exploitation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates new funds (Financial Literacy, Exploitation Prevention) via reallocated agent fees, advancing fiscal responsibility through targeted budgeting.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates Senior Health Insurance Information Program Fund to educate seniors on health insurance options, improving access to coverage understanding.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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died · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 458: A bill for an act establishing a grant program for a nonprofit organization providing sexual assault forensic examination centers.

HF 458 establishes a state grant program within Iowa's Department of Justice to fund nonprofit organizations operating sexual assault forensic examination centers. Eligible nonprofits must be state-incorporated, employ sexual assault nurse examiners, maintain dedicated treatment facilities for survivors, and prioritize sexual assault care as their primary mission. The program requires grantees to provide medical forensic services to all survivors - including adults, children, rural residents, and people with disabilities - and conduct mandatory trainings for medical staff, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the public on sexual assault services and prevention. Grantees must submit annual reports on services delivered but may seek additional funding from other sources, with the contract structured as general reimbursement for operating costs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds nonprofit sexual assault forensic examination centers, enhancing evidence collection for criminal investigations and supporting survivors within the criminal justice system.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds sexual assault forensic examination centers providing medical services to survivors, directly improving access to specialized healthcare services for victims.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime Healthcare Workforce

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