This bill prohibits courts from issuing subpoenas or search warrants to obtain menstrual health data. It directly affects individuals whose menstrual health data - defined as any information created or received by an entity about a person's menstrual health, status, or predictions - might otherwise be sought in legal proceedings. The key provision amends Iowa law to explicitly ban subpoenas for such data under Section 622.63 and prohibits search warrants for digital menstrual health data under Section 808.2. These changes prevent law enforcement or courts from accessing this sensitive personal information through legal process. The bill focuses solely on restricting data collection methods, not on broader health policies.
SF 102 requires all licensed K-12 school staff in Iowa with regular student contact to complete two annual, evidence-based mental health trainings by July 1, 2026. It mandates separate training on educator mental wellness (to occur within the first 60 days of the school year) and student social-emotional wellness with mental health symptom identification (to occur in January or February). Both trainings must follow nationally recognized best practices, and the state board of education will set qualifications for trainers. This bill directly affects school personnel holding licenses or certifications from Iowa's board of educational examiners.
SF 85 creates a state health equity program and fund to reimburse providers for menstrual and post-menstrual health services not covered by insurance. It directly affects uninsured patients and qualifying healthcare providers who treat conditions like endometriosis, menopause, fibroids, and incontinence. The program requires reimbursement within 10 days of billing (if the patient is uninsured or the service isn’t covered), caps administrative costs at 4% of funds, and uses state revenue previously spent on genitourinary agents for public employees. The fund is replenished annually and operates as the "payor of last resort" for eligible covered services meeting medical standards.
This bill requires all Iowa public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, and innovation zone schools to publish mental health resources from "your life Iowa" (a state program) on their websites or link to them online. Schools must also collaborate with enrolled students to develop new ways to improve awareness of these mental health resources. The law directly affects students and schools by mandating accessible online resource sharing and student involvement in awareness efforts. It does not change funding or create new services, but standardizes how schools provide mental health information.
SF 103 requires Iowa's Board of Medicine to adopt the most recent version of the American Medical Association's Code of Medical Ethics through formal rules by July 1, 2026. This bill directly affects physicians and medical practitioners in Iowa, as it mandates the state board to formally incorporate the AMA's established ethics standards into its regulations.
HF 4 requires healthcare providers to submit claims for reimbursement to a patient's primary health insurance plan first, before submitting to any secondary plans. It also mandates that primary health plans must provide a copy of the "explanation of benefits" (EOB) to the patient, their representative, or a secondary plan within 30 days of a request. The bill directly affects patients, healthcare providers, and health insurance companies by standardizing claim submission order and improving access to EOB documentation. These provisions aim to streamline billing processes and reduce administrative delays for covered individuals. The bill is procedural, focusing on claim handling rules rather than altering health coverage benefits.
SF 143 strengthens Iowa's consumer data protection laws by granting individuals new rights regarding automated data processing. It defines "profiling" as automated analysis of personal data to predict factors like health or behavior, requiring businesses to notify consumers and allow opt-outs for decisions affecting housing, employment, health care, or financial services. The bill expands "health data" protections and clarifies exemptions for entities already regulated under federal laws like HIPAA and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. It applies retroactively to January 1, 2025, affecting businesses handling consumer data in Iowa.
SF 131 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Education to collaborate on expanding evidence-based home visiting services for pregnant women and infants. The bill directs them to leverage Medicaid and other funding to provide prenatal, pregnancy, and postpartum support - including mental/physical health, social, and educational services - tailored to individual needs. It also authorizes a feasibility study to explore increasing Medicaid coverage for these services and mandates a 2026 report tracking the number of people served. The legislation focuses on coordination, avoiding duplication, and meeting federal evidence-based standards.
SF 129 requires Iowa hospitals to submit specific policies to the state department by September 1, 2025. Hospitals must submit policies on nondiscrimination, reproductive health care (including abortion, miscarriage care, and family planning), and, if they provide labor services, policies on recommended safety practices for childbirth. The state department must post all submitted policies online with a public comparison tool, and hospitals must also display these policies on their own websites without login requirements. Hospitals must submit updated policies within 30 days if they make changes to any required policy.
This bill requires Iowa's Medicaid program to cover doula care as part of maternity services for eligible recipients. It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish rules for doula certification, enrollment as providers, and fair reimbursement rates that support a livable income for doulas. The policy aims to improve birth outcomes, reduce stillbirths and infant deaths, and lower maternal mortality by expanding access to continuous physical, emotional, and informational support during pregnancy and childbirth. The bill applies specifically to Medicaid-covered maternity care under both fee-for-service and managed care models.
