HF 327 creates a tax credit for Iowa residents who serve as clinical preceptors for advanced registered nurse practitioner students. The credit provides $1,000 per clinical preceptorship (involving at least 100 hours of supervised learning) with a maximum $2,000 annual credit, directly affecting licensed nurse practitioners who mentor students without compensation. To qualify, preceptors must be employed at the clinical site, selected by the nursing program, and have at least one year of mentoring experience. The credit is refundable if it exceeds tax liability, and preceptors must document student details including hours and program information. The bill applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026.
SF 319, titled "The Patient’s Right to Save Act," requires health care providers to disclose the discounted cash price for each specific service they accept as payment. Providers must share this price in advance, including any variations based on timing, location, or patient income, and inform patients that cash payments may not be cheaper than insurance-negotiated rates. The bill mandates annual reviews of these prices and requires clear communication about cash payment options to both insured and uninsured patients before services are provided. It directly affects health care providers who accept cash payments, aiming to increase price transparency for consumers.
This bill would expand access to experimental treatments for Iowa patients with terminal or life-threatening illnesses who have exhausted all FDA-approved options. It establishes a framework allowing patients to receive investigational drugs, biological products, or devices that have completed Phase 1 FDA clinical trials but remain unapproved for general use. Eligible patients must obtain physician attestation, written informed consent detailing risks and costs, and documentation of failed standard treatments, with specific requirements for both terminal illness and life-threatening conditions. The bill was introduced in March 2025 but withdrawn before committee action.
This bill creates a $1,000 tax credit per clinical preceptorship for Iowa-licensed advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) who provide uncompensated clinical instruction and supervision to nursing students. To qualify, ARNPs must be employed at the clinical site, have at least one year of preceptor experience, and document student details including hours of supervision and expected graduation year. The credit is refundable and capped at $2,000 annually per preceptor. It applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and requires the Department of Revenue to report annual credit usage to the legislature.
HF 556 requires health insurers in Iowa to respond to credentialing requests from physicians, advanced nurse practitioners, and physician assistants within 56 calendar days. If an application is denied, insurers must provide a written explanation. Denied applicants can appeal internally and then to the insurance division, with "network adequacy" specifically listed as a valid appeal reason. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was withdrawn on March 21, 2025, and did not become law.
HF 320 would establish Iowa's "Right to Try" framework, allowing terminally ill or severely debilitating patients to access investigational drugs, biological products, or devices not yet approved by the FDA. It defines eligibility for patients with terminal illness (after exhausting all FDA-approved treatments) or life-threatening conditions requiring personalized genomic-based therapies. The bill requires detailed written informed consent documents outlining treatment options, potential outcomes (including risks of hastened death), cost liabilities (patients bear all expenses unless a manufacturer contract states otherwise), and impacts on hospice care eligibility. It specifically applies to Iowa residents seeking individualized treatments based on their genetic profile, such as gene therapy or personalized vaccines, under physician recommendation.
SF 559 would allow speech language pathologist assistants (SLPAs) working under licensed speech pathologists to be reimbursed for services provided to medical assistance program recipients (Iowa's Medicaid program). The bill requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to adopt rules enabling this reimbursement and to seek federal approval via a waiver or amendment to Medicare/Medicaid rules. This change would directly affect SLPAs and medical assistance recipients by expanding covered services, but only takes effect after HHS receives federal approval. The bill does not change current reimbursement for licensed speech pathologists.
SF 264 creates a Prescription Drug Affordability Board in Iowa to address high prescription drug costs. The board, appointed by the governor with Senate confirmation, will review drug pricing and may recommend upper payment limits for prescription drugs affecting all Iowans, especially patients with illnesses, opioid crisis communities, and healthcare providers. Key provisions require the board to hold public meetings, accept public input, and enforce strict conflict-of-interest rules (e.g., members cannot receive over $5,000 annually from drug manufacturers). The bill establishes this mechanism to review drug costs but does not yet implement price controls.
This bill allows Iowa pharmacists to order and dispense FDA-approved self-administered hormonal contraceptives (like pills or patches) directly to patients under statewide protocols. It affects pharmacists and patients seeking contraceptive care without requiring a separate doctor's prescription. Key provisions include requiring the pharmacy board to develop state protocols with health department input, mandating record-keeping, and ensuring pharmacists provide written records to patients. The bill defines "self-administered hormonal contraceptives" as FDA-approved products solely for preventing pregnancy. This changes how contraceptives are accessed, expanding pharmacist authority within defined guidelines.
SF 339 raises Iowa's Medicaid income eligibility threshold for pregnant women and infants from 215% to 375% of the federal poverty level. This change directly affects low-income pregnant women and infants whose families earn up to 375% of the federal poverty guideline, making them eligible for Medicaid coverage. The bill also requires Iowa to implement 12 months of continuous postpartum Medicaid coverage for qualifying pregnant women starting January 2026, and update infant eligibility rules accordingly. These changes align with federal requirements under the American Rescue Plan Act and aim to expand access to healthcare for this population.
