Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2025

SSB 1052: A bill for an act enacting the physician assistant licensure compact.

This bill creates a physician assistant (PA) licensure compact, allowing PAs licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining a new license. It requires PAs to follow the laws of the state where the patient is located during care, and establishes a "compact privilege" for out-of-state PAs. The compact specifically helps military families by enabling active-duty personnel and spouses to use their home-state license in other compact states. Participating states must maintain criminal background checks, share disciplinary actions, and follow uniform standards to protect patient safety.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands PA practice across states, improving patient access to healthcare services, particularly for military families, aligning with 'improves patient access' healthcare indicator.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2025

HSB 160: A bill for an act relating to the standards of practice relating to the prescribing of certain pain medications.

HSB 160 requires Iowa physicians to discuss specific risks and alternatives before prescribing opioid pain medications for acute or chronic pain, both for the initial prescription and the third prescription in a treatment course. Doctors must cover addiction risks, dangers of mixing opioids with alcohol/benzodiazepines, necessity of the prescription, and alternative treatments, then document this discussion in the patient’s medical record. The law excludes prescriptions for terminal illness comfort care (like hospice) or medications treating substance use disorders. It directly affects physicians prescribing opioids and their patients, aiming to improve informed consent around high-risk medications. The bill amends existing medical practice standards to mandate these patient discussions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates physician discussions on opioid risks, alternatives, and safety documentation to prevent addiction and improve patient safety in pain management, aligning with healthcare protection standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SF 111: A bill for an act relating to school personnel training, emergency care planning, authorizations for assisting, and limitations of liability concerning students with epilepsy or a seizure disorder.

SF 111 requires Iowa schools to ensure staff are trained to assist students with epilepsy or seizure disorders. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, each school must have at least one trained employee (or full-time school nurse) capable of administering approved seizure medications or medical devices. Schools must provide all staff with seizure recognition and first aid training by December 2026, and obtain annual parent authorization for medication administration. The bill also mandates seizure action plans for affected students and provides liability protection for school staff acting in good faith under these plans. These requirements apply only to schools with students diagnosed with epilepsy or currently taking FDA-approved seizure medication.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates staff training for student medical emergencies, enhancing safety and access for students with epilepsy in schools.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school staff training and protocols for emergency seizure care, improving access to timely medical treatment for students with epilepsy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SSB 1074: A bill for an act relating to pharmacy benefits managers, pharmacies, and prescription drugs and including applicability provisions.

This bill regulates pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to increase transparency and fairness in prescription drug pricing. It prohibits PBMs from using "spread pricing" (charging insurers more than they pay pharmacies) and requires rebates from drugmakers to reduce patient out-of-pocket costs at the point of sale. The bill also bans PBMs from restricting patient choice of pharmacy, imposing unreasonable credentialing requirements, or limiting access to specialty drugs. These provisions directly affect PBMs, pharmacies, and patients by ensuring fair reimbursement and cost-sharing practices for prescription drugs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRegulates PBMs to reduce patient costs, prohibits spread pricing, and ensures pharmacy choice access - directly improving affordability and access in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HSB 120: A bill for an act enacting the respiratory care interstate compact.

This bill establishes Iowa's participation in the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact, allowing licensed respiratory therapists from member states to practice across state lines without obtaining separate licenses in each state. It directly affects respiratory therapists seeking to work in multiple states and patients in those states by improving access to care through streamlined licensing. Key provisions include preserving each state's regulatory authority over licensing, creating a "compact privilege" for therapists to practice where patients are located, and supporting military families relocating between member states. The compact aims to address workforce shortages and reduce administrative burdens for both therapists and states.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill streamlines licensing for respiratory therapists across states, improving patient access to care. Directly advances healthcare access without restrictions.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 19, 2025

SSB 1082: A bill for an act creating an advanced registered nurse practitioner preceptor tax credit available against the individual income tax, and including applicability provisions.

This bill creates a $500 tax credit per clinical preceptorship for advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) who mentor nursing students without pay. It directly affects licensed ARNPs employed at clinical sites who provide at least 100 hours of unpaid supervision during a student’s required clinical training. The credit is capped at $2,000 annually per preceptor and requires documentation of student details, dates, and graduation year. The credit applies against individual income tax for tax years starting January 1, 2026, and excess credit is not refundable or carry-forwardable.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates $500 tax credit per preceptorship against individual income tax, providing targeted tax relief for healthcare mentors.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTax credit incentivizes ARNPs to mentor nursing students, directly supporting healthcare workforce development and improving access to care through expanded nursing training.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 20, 2025

HSB 119: A bill for an act enacting the dietitian licensure compact.

This bill establishes a dietitian licensure compact, allowing licensed dietitians in Iowa to practice across participating states without obtaining separate licenses in each. It creates a "compact privilege" equivalent to a state license, enabling dietitians to provide services (including telehealth) in remote states while preserving each state's regulatory authority over public health and safety. The compact requires member states to share license, disciplinary, and continuing education information through a centralized data system, reducing administrative burdens for professionals and states. It specifically supports military members and spouses relocating by streamlining licensure across state lines.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables interstate practice for dietitians, improving access to nutrition services without separate licensing, aligning with patient access indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing Telehealth

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SF 380: A bill for an act relating to prohibitions on noncompete covenants involving nurses and including applicability provisions.

SF 380 prohibits noncompete agreements for nurses in Iowa, directly affecting registered nurses and advanced registered nurse practitioners. It makes noncompete clauses void if a nurse earns under 150% of the minimum wage, and requires employers to prove such agreements are narrowly tailored to prevent unfair competition for higher-earning nurses. Violations entitle nurses to recover lost wages, attorney fees, and up to triple damages for willful violations, with employers facing $5,000 fines per violation. The law applies to agreements entered into on or after its effective date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits noncompete clauses for nurses, improving workforce mobility and patient access to care by removing barriers to employment in healthcare settings.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits noncompete clauses for nurses under 150% minimum wage, protecting job mobility and enabling recovery of lost wages and damages.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Minimum Wage

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SSB 1177: A bill for an act relating to the controlled substance crystalline polymorph psilocybin.

This bill removes the pharmaceutical form of psilocybin (specifically COMP 360, a crystalline polymorph) from Iowa's Schedule I list of controlled substances once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It would make it legal to prescribe, distribute, and market this FDA-approved pharmaceutical version, but only after federal rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act. The bill does not affect natural psilocybin or other forms of the substance, which remain illegal under current law. It directly impacts medical providers and pharmaceutical companies seeking to offer this specific FDA-approved treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill legalizes FDA-approved psilocybin for mental health treatment, expanding access to therapeutic options and supporting mental health services.90% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 25, 2025

HF 588: A bill for an act prohibiting the use, manufacture, distribution, and sale of consumer products containing certain chemicals and making penalties applicable.

HF 588 prohibits the sale, distribution, and use of consumer products containing PFAS chemicals (perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting January 1, 2026. It specifically targets food packaging, Class B fire fighting foam, and fire fighting personal protective equipment, with exceptions for products purchased before 2026 or required by federal law. The law applies to manufacturers, retailers, and distributors within Iowa, imposing penalties for violations after the effective date. Additional provisions address products like mattresses, air care items, and automotive maintenance products, but the core restrictions focus on the three primary categories.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBans PFAS chemicals in consumer products, reducing environmental pollution from persistent contaminants in packaging and firefighting gear, directly advancing pollution control.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits PFAS in food packaging/firefighting gear to prevent chemical exposure linked to health issues, supporting public health protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drinking Water

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