Healthcare

House File 807, the "Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act," establishes a framework for supporting pregnant women diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly. The bill allows healthcare practitioners to inform these women about available perinatal hospice services and offer referrals. It also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to compile and post a geographically organized list and information sheet about perinatal hospice services in Iowa and nationally, available in both English and Spanish, on its website.

This bill requires health insurance plans in Iowa to treat follow-up breast exams (supplemental and diagnostic) the same as routine screening mammograms for cost-sharing purposes. Specifically, plans cannot impose higher out-of-pocket costs (like copays or deductibles) for these follow-up exams than they do for standard screenings. It applies to all health insurance policies issued, renewed, or continued in Iowa after January 1, 2026. This change directly affects health insurers and patients seeking breast cancer screenings or follow-up care.

This bill creates a physician assistant licensure compact, allowing PAs licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining a new license. It directly affects physician assistants, patients in participating states, and military families (who can more easily maintain licensure when relocating). Key mechanisms include mutual recognition of licenses, requiring criminal background checks, and establishing a shared data system to track licenses and disciplinary actions. The compact ensures PAs must follow the laws of the state where the patient is located during care, while states retain authority to discipline licensees. This streamlines practice across state lines without changing existing licensing standards.

This bill (HSB 86) amends Iowa's school concussion policy law to expand the definition of "licensed health care provider" to include psychologists with doctorates and specialty training in neuropsychology or concussion management. It directly affects schools, athletic associations, and healthcare professionals involved in student-athlete concussion protocols. The key change allows these psychologists to authorize a student's return to sports after a concussion, alongside existing providers like doctors and physical therapists. This update ensures more healthcare professionals can participate in evaluating and clearing student athletes for safe return to play, as required under existing concussion management protocols.