Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 775: A bill for an act relating to medication abortions including required informed consent and the dispensing of abortion-inducing drugs to patients within the state.

HF 775 requires medical facilities in Iowa performing medication abortions to post visible signs informing patients that "recent developing research" suggests medication abortions may sometimes be reversed if a patient changes their mind. It mandates physicians to obtain written patient certification confirming they’ve been informed about medication abortion risks, the potential for reversal (with time sensitivity), and resources for reversal, both before the procedure and in written discharge instructions. The bill also directs Iowa’s health department to create online materials about reversal options and prohibits dispensing mifepristone outside healthcare settings. This bill directly affects patients seeking medication abortions and healthcare providers in Iowa, focusing on information requirements rather than altering abortion access.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill mandates controversial reversal information and written consent for medication abortions, creating barriers that limit patient access to this specific health service.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Apr 8, 2025

HSB 327: A bill for an act appropriating federal moneys made available from federal block grants and other nonstate sources, allocating portions of federal block grants, and providing procedures if federal moneys or federal block grants are more or less than anticipated.

HSB 327 allocates federal block grant funds for Iowa's health programs, primarily directing them to the Department of Health and Human Services for substance abuse treatment, community mental health services, maternal/child health, and preventive health. The bill specifies exact annual funding amounts (e.g., $14.1 million for substance abuse treatment annually) and mandates that at least 20% of substance abuse funds support prevention programs. It requires strict spending rules, including limits on administrative costs (5% for substance abuse, 5% for mental health, 10% for maternal health) and minimum funding levels for services for pregnant women and children. The bill also prohibits using maternal health funds for indirect costs at the University of Iowa and requires coordination between health agencies to improve care for low-income women and children.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates federal block grant funds to health programs including substance abuse treatment and mental health, specifying exact annual amounts and requiring 20% for prevention, directly funding essential public services under fiscal responsibility.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates federal funds to substance abuse, mental health, maternal/child health, and preventive programs with specific annual funding amounts and prevention mandates.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health Substance Abuse Women's Health

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died · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 913: A bill for an act providing for the continuation of health insurance in certain circumstances for the surviving spouse and each surviving child of employees of the state of Iowa and including retroactive applicability provisions.

HF 913 provides for the continuation of health insurance for the surviving spouse and children of Iowa state employees. This applies when an employee's death is determined to be the direct result of a traumatic personal injury incurred during work duties, with specific exclusions like intentional misconduct or intoxication. The state must permit survivors to continue or re-enroll in existing coverage, though the state is not required to pay the insurance costs. If the state does not cover the costs, the surviving family members can elect to continue coverage by paying the premiums themselves. The bill applies retroactively to January 1, 2024.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures continuation of existing health insurance coverage for survivors of state employees killed in work-related incidents, protecting access to current coverage without requiring state payment.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExtends health insurance benefits to surviving dependents of state employees killed in work-related incidents, strengthening post-employment protections for workers' families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 977: A bill for an act relating to the expansion of the ground emergency medical transportation program.

House File 977 expands the ground emergency medical transportation (GEMT) program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to employ dedicated staff to increase enrollment of eligible GEMT providers. These staff will offer technical assistance, actuary support, and help with Medicaid enrollment to providers seeking to participate. The department is also directed to develop the program to ensure access to emergency medical services statewide. Additionally, an annual report on the program's status, including enrollment numbers and barriers, must be submitted to the general assembly.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands GEMT program, increases provider enrollment via Medicaid assistance, and ensures statewide emergency medical access.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands ground emergency medical transportation program, directly enhancing access to emergency medical services via transportation infrastructure, aligning with transportation policy focus.92% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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died · Iowa · Senate Apr 29, 2025

SF 6: A bill for an act relating to the provision of information relating to immunization exemptions.

Senate File 6 requires various educational institutions and childcare providers to disseminate information about immunization exemptions. It mandates that the state health department, elementary and secondary schools, and licensed child care centers include exemption details in public communications, on their websites, and in registration documents. Schools, child care facilities, community colleges, and institutions of higher learning must also provide this information to parents, guardians, or students in communications related to immunization requirements. The bill aims to ensure individuals are informed about their options for immunization exemptions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates immunization exemption information dissemination to promote public health awareness and vaccination compliance, aligning with healthcare policy goals.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House May 12, 2025

HF 883: A bill for an act providing for access to feminine hygiene products in public school restrooms and making an appropriation.

House File 883 requires public school districts to provide free feminine hygiene products, such as sanitary napkins and tampons, to female students in grades six through twelve. These products must be accessible in women's restrooms within school buildings and refilled regularly. The bill appropriates state funds to the Department of Education from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, to reimburse school districts for the full cost of compliance. After this period, school districts will cover these costs using state school foundation aid.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds (2025-2028) to reimburse school districts for feminine hygiene products, directly funding a public service through state budget allocation.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires free feminine hygiene products in school restrooms for grades 6-12, ensuring student access and well-being, with state funding for implementation.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill funds free feminine hygiene products in schools, improving access to essential health supplies for students, aligning with public health access goals through state appropriation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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died · Iowa · House May 12, 2025

HF 852: 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) by defining and prohibiting certain pricing practices, such as "spread pricing." It mandates that patient cost-sharing for prescription drugs be reduced at the point of sale by at least 100% of any rebates received by the PBM or health carrier. The legislation also prevents PBMs from discriminating against pharmacies, limiting a patient's choice of pharmacy, or requiring exclusive use of mail-order pharmacies. These provisions directly affect PBMs, health carriers, pharmacies, and individuals covered by health plans.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates 100% rebate pass-through to patients, prohibits spread pricing, and prevents PBM anti-competitive practices, directly lowering prescription costs and improving patient access to medications.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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died · Iowa · Senate May 14, 2025

SF 649: 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.

Senate File 649 is a legislative bill that appropriates state funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates money to the Department of Veterans Affairs for administration, the Iowa Veterans Home, and a home ownership assistance program for eligible service members. The bill also provides funding to the Department of Health and Human Services for aging and disability services, including programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, it appropriates funds for behavioral health initiatives, such as prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for substance use and problem gambling, impacting individuals and families across the state. These appropriations support various public health programs and services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for veterans, health, and disability services, directly funding public programs under budget management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds to health services, behavioral health, medical assistance, and aging/disability programs under HHS appropriations.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAllocates funds for VA administration, Iowa Veterans Home, and home ownership assistance program for veterans, directly advancing veteran services and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Hospitals Substance Abuse

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passed · Iowa · Senate May 14, 2025

SF 624: A bill for an act relating to the opioid settlement fund, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

This bill establishes how Iowa's opioid settlement fund will be managed and used to address the opioid crisis, impacting state agencies, healthcare providers, and Iowans needing treatment. It mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Attorney General (AG) annually propose appropriations, with 75% of available funds going to HHS and 25% to the AG, and requires regular reports on disbursements. For fiscal year 2024-2025, the bill appropriates $12 million to HHS for grants to specific nonprofit organizations to expand a nature-based recovery campus, and an additional $30 million to HHS for general opioid crisis abatement efforts. These funds aim to support treatment, prevention, and recovery services for substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $12M for opioid crisis response via HHS, directing state funds per settlement agreement, aligning with budget allocation for essential services.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates $12M to HHS for opioid crisis treatment programs, directly funding healthcare services to address public health issue via settlement fund management.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Substance Abuse

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died · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2025

HF 14: A bill for an act relating to the controlled substance crystalline polymorph psilocybin.

HF 14 would remove the pharmaceutical form of psilocybin (specifically crystalline polymorph psilocybin, also known as COMP 360) from Iowa's Schedule I controlled substances list once approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It directs Iowa to align with federal rescheduling under the Controlled Substances Act, making it lawful to prescribe, distribute, and market this specific pharmaceutical product after FDA approval. The bill directly affects medical providers, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies seeking to legally offer this approved treatment. It does not change current penalties for non-pharmaceutical psilocybin possession, which remain classified as a serious misdemeanor or class B felony.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRemoves specific psilocybin from Schedule I, reducing criminal penalties for medical use and aligning with reform by decreasing criminalization of pharmaceutical treatments.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves Schedule I barrier for FDA-approved psilocybin treatment, enabling mental health care access for medical providers and patients.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy

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