Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2025

HF 255: A bill for an act enacting the psychology interjurisdictional compact.

HF 255 enacts Iowa's participation in the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact, allowing licensed psychologists from other participating states to provide temporary in-person services (up to 30 days per year) or telepsychology services to Iowa patients without needing an Iowa license. It directly affects psychologists seeking to practice across state lines and Iowa patients needing access to out-of-state psychological services. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, a coordinated system for sharing disciplinary information between states, and temporary practice certificates ("IPC") for in-person visits or telepsychology. The compact does not apply to permanent practice or psychologists already licensed in both states, while maintaining each state's authority to protect public safety through its own licensing standards.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables out-of-state psychologists to provide telepsychology/in-person services without Iowa license, expanding mental health access for patients via interstate compacts.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 6, 2025

SSB 1012: A bill for an act relating to the double up food bucks program, and making an appropriation.

This bill appropriates $1 million from Iowa's general fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support the Double Up Food Bucks program. It directly helps Iowa residents who receive federal SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits by making fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible at participating farmers markets and grocery stores. The funds will be provided as a grant to the Iowa Healthiest State Initiative to administer the program. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, specifically targeting increased access to healthy food for low-income SNAP households.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $1M from general fund to fund SNAP food assistance program, increasing state budget allocation for public health service.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds Double Up Food Bucks program under Iowa Healthiest State Initiative, improving access to healthy food for SNAP recipients via health-focused nutrition assistance.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2025

HF 279: A bill for an act relating to powers and duties applicable to state of disaster emergencies and public health disasters.

HF 279 clarifies procedures for declaring and managing state disaster emergencies, including public health disasters. It requires governors to issue written proclamations detailing the affected area, basis for the emergency, and specifically noting public health designations. The bill explicitly prohibits emergency measures that infringe constitutional rights without strong justification, restrict religious interactions, use surveillance without consent, or limit healthcare professionals' licensed practices. It also bans mandatory disease contact monitoring that violates freedom of association and ensures individuals retain final authority over medical exams and vaccinations during emergencies. These provisions aim to balance emergency response with protected rights and healthcare access.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits emergency measures limiting healthcare professionals' licensure, protecting provider access during public health emergencies.85% confidence

Tags Emergency Management

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2025

HSB 1: A bill for an act relating to the review by the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing of certain deficient practices by nursing facilities.

This bill requires Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to establish a formal review process before issuing final citations for serious nursing facility safety issues. It directly affects nursing facilities facing citations for "immediate jeopardy" (e.g., risks of serious harm or death to residents) or "substandard quality of care." The key provision mandates that facility representatives can provide context or evidence to DIAL *before* a final citation is issued, ensuring earlier input during the review. This changes the current process where facilities could only submit input *after* receiving a citation. The bill aims to standardize how DIAL applies safety protocols while giving facilities a proactive opportunity to address concerns.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates review before citations to prevent unfair penalties, protecting nursing facility operations critical to healthcare delivery.75% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 104: 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.

HF 104 allows minors to consent to medical care for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like testing, treatment, or prevention, but creates an exception for STI vaccinations. It specifically states minors cannot legally consent to receiving STI vaccines without parental or guardian involvement. The bill modifies existing law (Code 139A.35) to clarify that consent for vaccinations requires a parent or guardian, while other STI-related care (diagnosis, treatment, prevention) remains accessible to minors without parental consent. This directly affects minors seeking STI-related health services in Iowa.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows minors to consent to STI testing/treatment without parental consent, expanding access to healthcare services while clarifying vaccine requirements.90% confidence

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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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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HSB 161: A bill for an act relating to the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney for health care.

This Iowa bill (HSB 161) clarifies the authority of a person legally authorized to make health care decisions (an "attorney in fact") under a durable power of attorney for health care. It requires the attorney in fact to prioritize the principal's (the person granting authority) expressed wishes, whether documented in the power of attorney, in a life-sustaining procedures declaration, or communicated directly to them. The bill specifically states that verbal wishes shared with others or written in other documents do not limit the attorney's authority unless explicitly stated in the power of attorney itself. It also clarifies that life-sustaining procedures declarations do not prevent the withdrawal of hydration or nutrition when medically necessary via parenteral or intubation methods.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies patient decision-making authority to prioritize expressed wishes, protecting patient rights in healthcare decisions.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2025

HF 424: 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.

HF 424 establishes Iowa's "Work Without Worry" program, providing health coverage through the state's medical assistance program for employed individuals with disabilities aged 18-64 who meet income requirements. It removes typical Medicaid barriers by allowing participants to keep coverage while working, with premiums calculated as 6% of "countable income" (income used for basic needs), and automatically enrolling Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. The program includes a 6-month grace period for temporary job loss or health issues without requiring premium payments during that time, and participants retain access to all standard Medicaid services plus additional community-based support. This directly affects Iowans with disabilities who work but would otherwise lose health coverage due to income limits under current Medicaid rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new healthcare coverage program for employed disabled individuals, removing work-based Medicaid barriers and expanding access without premium hikes for eligible participants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HSB 190: A bill for an act relating to the recovery of overpayment of a claim by a dental carrier.

This bill establishes rules for dental insurance companies (dental carriers) recovering overpayments made to dentists or dental practices (dental care providers). It requires carriers to provide written notice of overpayments within 365 days of payment, including details of the error, and to create clear appeal processes allowing providers 90 days to dispute the recovery. Carriers may recover overpayments by withholding payments on future claims but must give immediate written notice identifying the original overpayment and affected claims. The bill prohibits contracts from bypassing these rules, making any such agreement invalid.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires dental carriers to provide notice and appeal processes for overpayments, protecting provider rights and maintaining access to dental care services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 487: A bill for an act relating to drug paraphernalia and drug-checking equipment.

HF 487 modifies Iowa's drug paraphernalia laws to exempt specific harm reduction tools from criminal penalties. It explicitly excludes fentanyl/xylazine test strips, drug-checking equipment, and materials used by authorized harm reduction organizations (like public health departments) from the definition of "drug paraphernalia." The bill protects individuals from arrest, housing loss, or other penalties when using these tools for testing substances, and prohibits using drug-checking results as evidence in court. It also permits state opioid settlement funds to support these activities, directly affecting people who use substance-checking services and harm reduction programs.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExempts fentanyl test strips and harm reduction tools from criminal penalties, reducing unnecessary arrests and aligning with criminal justice reform by prioritizing public health over punishment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExempts fentanyl test strips and drug-checking equipment from criminal penalties, removing legal barriers to public health harm reduction services and protecting users from penalties when using safety tools.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingPrevents housing loss for using drug-checking tools, protecting tenants from eviction related to harm reduction efforts under the bill's exemptions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Substance Abuse

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