Healthcare

died · Iowa · House Feb 24, 2025

HF 123: A bill for an act relating to orders for treatment of persons experiencing psychiatric deterioration.

HF 123 amends Iowa's mental health laws to clarify procedures for involuntary treatment. It defines "psychiatric deterioration" as a condition where a person cannot understand their need for treatment, is unlikely to seek it, and faces risk of serious mental impairment without care. The bill requires courts to hold hearings within 48 hours if a person is deemed to be experiencing this deterioration or serious mental impairment, and limits involuntary detention to five days without court approval. This affects Iowans with severe mental health crises who lack judgmental capacity due to mental impairment or substance use disorders.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies involuntary treatment procedures to ensure timely court oversight, protecting patient rights and improving access to mental health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SF 128: A bill for an act relating to immunization information requested on a medical examiner report used for investigations.

SF 128 requires medical examiners investigating infant deaths (ages 0-3) to include specific immunization details on their investigation reports. The bill mandates that reports request the date and type of the decedent’s last immunization, including all types if multiple vaccines were administered at once. This change applies only to medical examiner forms used in these specific death investigations. The bill does not alter vaccination requirements or affect families directly, but adds a standard data point for medical examiners to collect during their investigations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates immunization details in infant death reports to improve public health data collection, supporting disease prevention efforts.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Children's Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SF 552: A bill for an act relating to a review of anti-obesity medications by the department of health and human services and the department of administrative services for purposes of the medical assistance program and health insurance plans for state employees.

SF 552 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Administrative Services (DAS) to review anti-obesity medications - including GLP-1 agonists - for use in two specific programs: the state's medical assistance program (Medicaid) and health insurance plans for state employees. The review must assess medication effectiveness for weight loss, impact on related health conditions (comorbidities), potential cost savings, recommended eligibility, and short- and long-term coverage costs. HHS and DAS must submit a report to the legislature by January 5, 2026, detailing their findings, proposed eligibility rules, and cost analysis. This bill does not change current coverage but mandates a formal review to inform future policy decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates review of anti-obesity meds for Medicaid and state employee insurance to assess coverage eligibility and cost savings, expanding potential treatment access within public healthcare programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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signed · Iowa · House Jun 2, 2026

HF 990: A bill for an act relating to the issuance of medical cannabidiol registration cards and licensure of medical cannabidiol dispensaries.

HF 990 establishes a licensing process for medical cannabidiol (CBD) dispensaries in Iowa. The bill requires the state department to issue requests for proposals and license up to five dispensaries (with potential for up to ten) by April 1, 2018, and renew licenses by December 1 each year. It directly affects businesses seeking to operate medical CBD dispensaries by setting caps on the number of licenses and defining the application timeline. The key provision is the structured annual licensing system to regulate the distribution of medical CBD products within the state.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEstablishes licensing framework for medical CBD dispensaries, enabling patient access to healthcare service under regulated conditions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SF 581: A bill for an act relating to the reporting of serious reportable events, and providing penalties.

SF 581 requires hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and birth centers (defined as "facilities" in Iowa law) to report serious medical errors - like wrong-site surgery or patient falls - to the Department of Inspections within 15 working days. Facilities must also conduct root cause analyses and implement corrective action plans, with findings submitted alongside reports. The law ensures confidentiality of all data, prohibits the system from punishing staff, and directs the department to analyze trends to improve healthcare safety. It establishes an electronic reporting system and mandates annual public reports on event patterns and corrective recommendations. The bill affects healthcare facilities directly, focusing on transparency and systemic quality improvement.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates error reporting and corrective actions to improve patient safety, strengthening healthcare quality protocols without restricting access or funding.85% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jun 16, 2025

SF 313: A bill for an act relating to the prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and administering authority of pharmacists and practitioners.

SF 313 prevents Iowa licensing boards and employers from restricting pharmacists or healthcare practitioners (like doctors, nurses, or nurse practitioners) from using their professional judgment to prescribe, recommend, or dispense medications within their legal job description. It prohibits employers from enforcing policies - whether in contracts, handbooks, or other agreements - that discourage such decisions, making these restrictions unenforceable and ineligible for disciplinary action. The bill ensures pharmacists and practitioners cannot face license discipline for following their best professional judgment when using medications consistent with their legally defined scope of practice. This applies to all licensed healthcare providers authorized to prescribe drugs in Iowa, including pharmacists, physicians, and advanced practice nurses.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves employer restrictions on pharmacists' professional judgment, enhancing patient access to medications within legal scope.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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signed · Iowa · House May 27, 2025

HF 303: A bill for an act relating to prior authorization and utilization review organizations.

HF 303 modifies rules for insurance company approvals (prior authorization) and the organizations that review medical treatment requests (utilization review organizations). It directly affects healthcare providers, insurers, and patients by changing how prior authorization requests are processed. The bill establishes specific timeframes for reviews and requires utilization review organizations to follow standardized procedures. This aims to reduce delays in patient care while maintaining oversight of treatment appropriateness. The legislation passed unanimously and was signed into law by the Governor on May 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReduces delays in prior authorization processing, improving patient access to timely care while standardizing insurer review procedures.85% confidence

passed · Iowa · Senate May 15, 2025

SF 180: A bill for an act relating to the right to refuse certain medical services for reasons of conscience.

SF 180 establishes an individual's right to refuse certain medical services for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions. This right applies to medical services declared a federal countermeasure or given emergency use authorization by the FDA. The bill prohibits businesses, employers, healthcare providers, and government entities from denying employment or services, segregating, penalizing, or discriminating against individuals who refuse such services. Individuals negatively affected by a violation can bring a civil action for injunctive relief, declaratory judgment, and damages, including attorney fees.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects patient right to refuse FDA-emergency medical services without discrimination, aligning with patient rights in healthcare access.95% confidence

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signed · Iowa · House Jun 11, 2025

HF 330: A bill for an act relating to insurance coverage for covered individuals for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder and including applicability provisions.

HF 330 requires health insurance plans to cover evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for individuals diagnosed with ASD. It directly affects people with ASD who have health insurance, mandating that insurers provide this coverage without excessive cost-sharing. The bill establishes specific requirements for insurance companies to include ASD treatment services in their coverage, applying to most health insurance plans. This law, signed by the Governor on June 11, 2025, ensures that individuals with ASD can access necessary treatment through their insurance.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance coverage for autism treatment, expanding health services access without excessive cost-sharing for ASD patients.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance

passed · Iowa · House Apr 24, 2025

HF 1000: A bill for an act providing for the establishment of a veterans service organization grant program, and making appropriations.

HF 1000 establishes a veterans service organization grant program and fund under the Department of Veterans Affairs. This program provides matching funds to eligible veterans service organizations to help them employ staff. These staff members are specifically tasked with assisting veterans in filing claims. To receive a grant, organizations must demonstrate they have budgeted their own funds, and the bill initially appropriates $250,000 to the fund for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill appropriates $250,000 for veterans service grants, directly funding a state program under budgetary authority.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAssists veterans in filing healthcare claims, improving access to VA benefits and support services.80% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransEstablishes grant program funding veterans service orgs to assist with claim filings, directly advancing veteran benefits access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Memorials & Recognition Veteran Benefits Veteran Healthcare

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