House File 707 establishes a standing annual appropriation of $20,000 to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026. This funding is dedicated to making free radon test kits available to homeowners and renters throughout the state. HHS will distribute these kits through existing contracts with the Iowa radon awareness recipient, certified radon laboratories, or other approved vendors. All test kits must be obtained from and analyzed by a certified radon laboratory, and distributors are required to provide resulting data to HHS upon request. The department will also provide an online link on its website for ordering these kits.
SF 565 provides for the continuation of health insurance coverage for the surviving spouses and children of employees of the state of Iowa. This bill ensures that these family members can maintain their health insurance benefits under specific conditions after the employee's death. It also includes provisions for retroactive applicability, meaning it could apply to past situations. The aim is to offer continued health coverage to these surviving families.
SF 284 increases the monthly amount that can be paid for necessary expenses from medical income assistance trusts in Iowa without court approval, raising the limit from $10 to $50 per month. This change directly affects individuals using these trusts to manage healthcare costs, allowing them more flexibility for routine trust expenses. The bill amends existing code sections to adjust this automatic expense allowance, simplifying the process for beneficiaries. It does not create new programs or alter eligibility requirements.
HF 933 establishes requirements for pediatric palliative care centers in Minnesota, directly affecting children with serious illnesses and their families. The bill mandates specific standards for facility operations, staffing, and care coordination to ensure specialized medical support. It requires centers to meet these standards to provide services for pediatric patients facing life-threatening conditions. Signed into law by the Governor on May 27, 2025, the bill creates a framework for consistent, high-quality palliative care access.
HF 383 would remove the pharmaceutical form of psilocybin (specifically crystalline polymorph COMP 360) from Iowa's Schedule I controlled substances list once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it and reschedules it under federal law. This would allow doctors to legally prescribe, distribute, and market COMP 360 for medical use, directly affecting healthcare providers and patients seeking this treatment. The bill automatically aligns Iowa law with federal FDA decisions on this specific pharmaceutical formulation. Note: The bill was vetoed by the governor on June 11, 2025, so it has not become law.
SF 383 requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to disclose drug pricing details and standardized fee structures to pharmacies and insurers. It limits certain PBM practices that affect prescription drug costs and establishes transparency rules for pharmacy services administrative organizations. The law directly affects PBMs, pharmacies, and insurance companies managing prescription drug benefits. Signed into law by the Governor on June 6, 2025, it aims to increase transparency in drug pricing and pharmacy billing.
This bill allows retired public safety employees in Iowa to convert all their unused sick leave into cash value (at 100% of current worth) to help pay for their health insurance premiums. It also extends this benefit to surviving spouses or dependents after a retired employee's death, using the remaining value for their health insurance costs. The policy applies to all retired public safety employees (as defined in state law) who have applied for retirement benefits, but excludes those covered by collective bargaining agreements that already provide employer-paid retirement health savings. The bill directly affects retired public safety workers and their families by providing financial support for ongoing health coverage.
HF 219 requires health insurance companies covering medical malpractice claims to negotiate settlement offers within policy limits in good faith. If an insurer refuses a claimant's settlement offer at or below the policy limit and the case results in a judgment exceeding that limit, the insurer must pay the full judgment amount. This directly affects health care providers (insureds) and their insurers, giving providers a legal claim against insurers for failing to negotiate within policy limits. The bill shifts liability to insurers for excess judgments when they unreasonably reject reasonable settlement offers.
This bill (HSB 19) requires health plans and review organizations to set strict timelines for processing prior authorization requests: 48 hours for urgent cases and 10 days for non-urgent cases (up to 15 days for complex situations). It also mandates annual reviews to eliminate unnecessary prior authorizations for services routinely approved, ensuring such requirements justify administrative costs. Health plans must implement a pilot program by 2026 exempting qualifying primary care providers from certain authorizations, with details published online about eligibility and covered services. Plans must report annual results, including cost analyses and provider feedback, to the insurance commissioner by 2027. The bill directly affects health plans, providers, and patients by streamlining authorization processes and increasing transparency.
SF 202 requires Iowa's pharmacy board to adopt rules by October 31, 2025, ensuring people who are blind, visually impaired, or have print disabilities receive accessible prescription labels, bag tags, and medical guides at no extra cost. These materials must be provided in fully accessible formats (like audio) within the same timeframe as standard labels for other patients. The rules must align with federal accessibility guidelines from a 2016 government report and include public notice about available formats. The board must report progress, recommendations, and projected costs for implementing these changes to Iowa's governor and legislature by January 1, 2026.
