Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 14, 2025

SF 2: A bill for an act relating to the statute of repose in medical malpractice claims.

SF 2 amends Iowa's medical malpractice law by adding a second exception to the six-year deadline for filing claims. Currently, the six-year deadline (statute of repose) doesn't apply if a foreign object was unintentionally left in a patient's body. This bill adds that the deadline also doesn't apply if a healthcare provider or their staff concealed the cause of injury or death. It directly affects patients who discover medical negligence later due to concealment by physicians, dentists, hospitals, or other licensed providers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAdds exception to statute of repose for concealed medical negligence, enabling patients to file claims later - protects patient rights in healthcare malpractice cases.92% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 15, 2025

HF 61: A bill for an act relating to the disclosure of prices charged for certain health services rendered by health care providers and hospitals.

HF 61 requires health care providers to publicly list prices for their 25 most common services (with coding and plain-language descriptions) online, updated annually. Hospitals must list prices for 75 most common inpatient and 75 outpatient services (using Medicare grouping) online, updated quarterly. All disclosed prices must include a disclaimer stating they are estimates, not binding charges, and actual costs may vary. The bill directs Iowa's department to align these requirements with existing federal price transparency rules under the Affordable Care Act.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare providers to disclose prices for common services, enabling informed patient decisions and improving cost transparency in healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 15, 2025

HF 58: A bill for an act relating to insurance coverage for the treatment of eating disorders.

HF 58 requires Iowa health insurance plans to cover treatment for eating disorders, directly affecting patients with conditions like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder and their insurers. The bill mandates coverage for all services in a patient's treatment plan - including therapy, medications, hospitalization, and out-of-network care when local options are unavailable and medically necessary - without stricter copays or deductibles than for physical illnesses. It applies to most individual and group health plans starting January 1, 2026, excluding accident-only, dental, or Medicare supplement insurance. The Iowa Insurance Commissioner must create rules to enforce these requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for eating disorder treatment including therapy/hospitalization without higher copays than physical health, expanding mental health coverage and protecting patient access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 15, 2025

SF 13: A bill for an act relating to the duties of insurers under medical malpractice insurance policies.

This bill requires insurers to negotiate medical malpractice settlement offers within policy limits in good faith. If an insurer refuses a claimant's settlement offer at or below the policy limit and a court later awards more than the limit, the insurer must pay the full judgment amount. Health care providers who face excessive judgments due to an insurer's refusal to negotiate can sue the insurer for damages, including legal fees. The bill directly affects medical providers (by protecting them from uncovered costs) and insurers (by imposing new liability for settlement refusal).

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects healthcare providers from excessive judgments by requiring insurers to negotiate settlements in good faith, directly strengthening provider financial security within healthcare insurance framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 16, 2025

HF 77: A bill for an act relating to practice requirements for surgical technologists.

HF 77 sets requirements for who can practice surgical technology in Iowa health care facilities. It prohibits employment or practice unless individuals meet specific qualifications, such as completing an accredited training program, holding national certification, or having prior employment in Iowa before July 1, 2025. Starting July 1, 2026, practitioners must complete 15 hours of annual continuing education, with the licensing department setting related rules. The bill explicitly does not restrict licensed doctors, nurses, dentists, or optometrists from performing surgical tech duties within their existing professional scope.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSets qualification standards for surgical technologists to ensure patient safety and quality care, aligning with healthcare protection goals.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 22, 2025

HSB 10: A bill for an act relating to persons who may provide health services to students enrolled in a school district.

This bill requires Iowa school districts to employ either a licensed school nurse or a licensed athletic trainer (under Chapter 152D) to provide student health services starting July 1, 2025, replacing the current requirement for only a school nurse. It affects all public school districts in Iowa, mandating they aim for one provider per 750 students. The bill updates existing code sections to include athletic trainers as qualified personnel and specifies where health-related records must be stored (with the school nurse, athletic trainer, or administrator). These changes align with provisions for health services documentation and staffing in school health policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school health personnel to ensure student well-being, supporting educational access and safety within school environments.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates qualified health personnel (nurses/trainers) per student ratio, improving school health service access and standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 22, 2025

HF 111: A bill for an act creating an advanced registered nurse practitioner preceptor tax credit available against the individual income tax, and including applicability provisions.

HF 111 creates a tax credit for advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) who serve as unpaid clinical preceptors for nursing students. Eligible preceptors receive a $500 credit per qualifying clinical mentoring session (with at least 100 hours of supervised learning), capped at $2,000 annually for individual income tax. To qualify, preceptors must provide uncompensated instruction at their workplace, be selected by nursing programs, and have at least one year of preceptor experience. The credit applies to tax years starting January 1, 2026, and any unused portion isn’t refundable or carryable to other years.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax credit against individual income tax for ARNPs, offering targeted tax relief aligned with fiscal support.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill incentivizes nursing preceptors to mentor students, directly supporting higher education training access and program capacity in nursing education.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates tax credit to incentivize ARNPs to mentor nursing students, strengthening healthcare workforce development and improving future provider access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 23, 2025

SF 87: A bill for an act relating to insurance coverage for acupuncture.

SF 87 requires most health insurance plans in Iowa to cover acupuncture services performed by licensed acupuncturists, starting January 1, 2026. The bill mandates that this coverage must be equally favorable as coverage for general physical illness, meaning out-of-pocket costs (like deductibles or copays) cannot be higher than for standard medical care. It applies to individual, group, and small group health insurance plans but excludes dental, vision, Medicare supplements, workers' compensation, and other specialized coverage. This law directly affects health insurance providers and policyholders by expanding covered services without increasing patient costs relative to conventional medical treatments.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for acupuncture with equal cost-sharing as standard medical care, expanding access to alternative healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 27, 2025

SF 130: A bill for an act relating to health insurance coverage for infertility.

This bill requires most health insurance plans in Iowa to cover infertility diagnosis, treatment, and fertility preservation services starting July 1, 2025. It mandates coverage for up to three egg retrieval cycles with unlimited embryo transfers (using single embryo transfer when medically appropriate), and ensures fertility medications are covered at the same level as other prescription drugs. Plans must apply the same deductibles, copays, and benefit limits for infertility care as for other medical services. Religious employers may opt out of this requirement with written notice to employees. The law applies to standard health insurance plans but excludes dental, vision, short-term, and certain other specialized coverage types.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates health insurance coverage for infertility diagnosis, treatment, and fertility preservation, expanding access to reproductive healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 27, 2025

SJR 1: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the right to reproductive care.

This proposed constitutional amendment would protect reproductive care - including abortion, contraception, prenatal care, and miscarriage management - as a fundamental right in Iowa, prohibiting state interference with these decisions. It allows state regulation only when necessary for a compelling interest using the least restrictive means, and permits abortion restrictions after fetal viability only if medically necessary to protect a patient’s life or health. The amendment must be approved by voters following legislative passage, as it is currently in committee review.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill protects reproductive care (abortion, contraception, prenatal care) as a fundamental right, prohibiting state interference and ensuring access, directly advancing healthcare patient rights and access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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