Healthcare

signed · Iowa · Senate Jun 27, 2025

SF 615: A bill for an act relating to work requirements for the Iowa health and wellness plan, public assistance programs, an information technology fund, the public assistance modernization fund, and the Medicaid for employed people with disabilities program, and including effective date provisions.

SF 615 adds work requirements for participants in Iowa's health and wellness plan and Medicaid for employed people with disabilities, directly affecting eligible residents receiving these specific public assistance benefits. The bill requires individuals to meet certain work or training hours to maintain eligibility, alongside provisions for related funding mechanisms like the information technology fund and public assistance modernization fund. It became law after the Governor signed it on June 6, 2025, implementing these new eligibility conditions for the specified programs. The policy change modifies existing program rules without altering benefit amounts or creating new programs.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareAdds work requirements for Medicaid/health plan eligibility, restricting access to healthcare benefits for recipients by linking coverage to employment status.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 666: A bill for an act relating to the Iowa human life protection Act, providing for civil actions and civil penalties, and including effective date provisions.

HF 666 defines "elective abortion" as any act intending to terminate a pregnancy with knowledge it will likely cause the death of an unborn child, excluding emergency contraception, in vitro fertilization, and certain medical treatments like miscarriage care. It creates civil penalties for abortion providers, "abortion funds" that help pay for abortions, and anyone who "aids or abets" abortions, including civil lawsuits under federal RICO laws for abortion pill distribution. The bill explicitly excludes emergency contraception (like Plan B), medical treatments for ectopic pregnancy, and miscarriage care from its restrictions. It applies to individuals and entities facilitating abortions, with penalties enforced through civil actions rather than criminal prosecution.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access by imposing civil penalties on providers and aiding abortions, directly limiting a healthcare service under healthcare topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2025

HSB 159: A bill for an act relating to the suspension of child support and medical support in certain circumstances.

This bill allows Iowa courts to temporarily suspend child and medical support payments when a juvenile court places a child's custody or physical care with the person who owes those payments (the obligor). It creates a process where the obligor can apply for an immediate ("ex parte") suspension order, which takes effect when entered, and the recipient can later request termination of the suspension if custody returns to them. The application must include specific court details, and objections to suspension orders can be filed within 15 days, triggering a mandatory hearing within 7 days. The bill aims to align support modifications with custody changes under juvenile court orders, without altering the underlying support obligation.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill suspends medical support payments during custody changes, temporarily restricting healthcare funding for children, aligning with 'restricts health coverage' under oppose stance.85% confidence

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died · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2025

HF 948: A bill for an act relating to public assistance programs, work requirements for the Iowa health and wellness plan, an information technology fund, the public assistance modernization fund, and the Medicaid for employed people with disabilities program and program review and report.

HF 948 establishes work requirements for Iowa's Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), requiring most participants to work at least 80 hours monthly to maintain benefits, with exemptions for children, seniors, people with disabilities, and others. It creates an Information Technology Fund to modernize state health systems, transferring unspent funds from a previous public assistance modernization fund. The bill also updates eligibility for Iowa's Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities program to disregard certain income and asset limits (up to $10,000 for individuals), and mandates a state review of similar programs in other states by December 2025. These changes directly affect low-income Iowans enrolled in IHAWP or the Medicaid program for employed people with disabilities.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareImposes work requirements on IHAWP participants, restricting access to healthcare benefits for non-exempt individuals while creating barriers to maintain coverage.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates Information Technology Fund to modernize state health systems, directly funding technology infrastructure for public assistance programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 23, 2025

SF 84: A bill for an act relating to noneconomic, punitive, and exemplary damage awards against health care providers and hospitals.

SF 84 limits noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases against health care providers and hospitals to $250,000 per injury or death, with exceptions for substantial bodily impairment, disfigurement, or death (up to $1 million, or $2 million if a hospital is involved). It removes the "loss of pregnancy" exception and repeals the annual 2.1% cap increase. For punitive damages, the bill requires that only 25% of the award goes to the plaintiff in medical cases, with the remainder funding indigent legal aid and insurance programs via a civil reparations trust. This directly affects patients filing medical malpractice claims and health care providers facing lawsuits. The bill does not change how economic damages (like lost wages) are calculated.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareLimits patient compensation in medical malpractice cases by capping noneconomic damages, restricting access to redress for healthcare errors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 13, 2025

SF 120: A bill for an act providing an exception to a minor’s legal capacity to consent to the provision of medical care or services for a sexually transmitted disease or infection.

This bill (SF 120) amends Iowa law to require parental consent for minors seeking vaccinations against sexually transmitted diseases or infections. Currently, minors can consent to STI-related medical care (prevention, diagnosis, treatment) without parental involvement; this bill creates an exception specifically for STI vaccinations, mandating parental consent for that service. It directly affects minors under 18 seeking STI vaccines and their parents or legal guardians. The key provision changes Section 139A.35 of the Iowa Code to exclude vaccinations from the existing minor-consent exception for STI care. The bill is currently in committee review.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRequires parental consent for minors' STI vaccinations, restricting access to healthcare services without parental involvement.90% confidence

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signed · Iowa · Senate May 19, 2026

SF 304: A bill for an act providing an exception to a minor’s legal capacity to consent to the provision of medical care or services for a sexually transmitted disease or infection.

Senate File 304 amends existing law concerning a minor's ability to consent to medical care related to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Currently, minors can independently consent to medical care or services for the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of STDs. This bill introduces a specific exception to that provision. Under SF 304, a minor will no longer have the legal capacity to consent to the provision of a vaccination for a sexually transmitted disease or infection without the consent of another person, such as a parent or guardian.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts minors' independent consent for STD vaccinations, limiting access to a specific healthcare service under current law.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SF 363: A bill for an act relating to the Iowa health and wellness plan and member community engagement requirements and including effective date provisions.

SF 363 requires eligible Iowa health and wellness plan members (a Medicaid program) to participate in 20+ hours weekly of community engagement activities like work, volunteering, or job training, unless they qualify for an exemption. Exemptions include individuals under 19, over 64, pregnant, caring for young children, medically unfit, or receiving unemployment benefits. The bill mandates the state health department to seek a federal waiver to implement this requirement and set an implementation deadline of July 1, 2025. It directly affects Medicaid members who do not meet specific exemption criteria.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareImposes mandatory community engagement hours on Medicaid members, restricting access to healthcare coverage unless exemptions apply, aligning with work requirement policies that reduce program accessibility.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 12, 2025

HSB 248: A bill for an act relating to public assistance programs, work requirements for the Iowa health and wellness plan, an information technology fund, the public assistance modernization fund, and the Medicaid for employed people with disabilities program and program review and report.

This bill establishes work requirements for Iowa's Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP), requiring participants to work at least 80 hours monthly to maintain eligibility, unless exempt for reasons like age (under 19 or over 65), disability, caregiving, pregnancy, or substance use treatment. It creates an Information Technology Fund to modernize public assistance systems and transfers unspent funds from a related program into this new fund. The bill also amends Medicaid rules to expand eligibility for employed people with disabilities and mandates a state review of similar programs in other states by December 2025, with recommendations for improving employment opportunities. These changes apply directly to low-income Iowans enrolled in the IHAWP and Medicaid programs, subject to federal approval.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareImposes work requirements on Medicaid participants (80 hours/month), restricting access to health coverage unless exempt, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates an Information Technology Fund to modernize public assistance systems, explicitly funding technology infrastructure for government services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 24, 2025

SF 599: A bill for an act relating to work requirements for the Iowa health and wellness plan, public assistance programs, an information technology fund, the public assistance modernization fund, and the Medicaid for employed people with disabilities program.

This bill establishes work requirements as a condition for maintaining eligibility in Iowa's Health and Wellness Plan (IHAWP) and aligns similar requirements across public assistance programs, pending federal approval. It specifies exemptions for vulnerable groups including individuals under 19, seniors 65+, people with disabilities (per Social Security), caretakers of young children, those in substance use treatment, and medically exempt individuals. The bill also creates an Information Technology Fund by transferring unspent funds from the Public Assistance Modernization Fund to support system upgrades for program administration. Additionally, it amends Medicaid rules to clarify income and resource disregards for employed people with disabilities.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareImposes work requirements on Medicaid eligibility, restricting access for non-working beneficiaries despite limited exemptions.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates an Information Technology Fund explicitly, funding technology initiatives per bill title and subjects, aligning with 'fund' indicator for support.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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