Healthcare

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

Track

signed · Iowa · House May 19, 2026

HF 571: A bill for an act relating to protections for medical practitioners and health care institutions, including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties.

HF 571, the "Medical Ethics Defense Act," protects medical practitioners, healthcare institutions, and health care payors from discrimination when refusing to provide or cover specific services based on conscience (e.g., religious or ethical beliefs). It prohibits adverse actions like termination or penalties for such refusals, requires health care payors to cover services they’re contractually obligated to pay for, and grants immunity from liability for good-faith conscience-based decisions. The bill also shields whistleblowers who report violations related to conscience protections or ethical violations to authorities like the attorney general or federal agencies. It explicitly does not override requirements for emergency care under federal law.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill restricts patient access to services by enabling conscience-based refusals (e.g., contraception/abortion), limiting coverage options despite requiring payors to cover contractual services.85% confidence

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

Track

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 Jan 15, 2026

SF 220: A bill for an act relating to protections for medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payors including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties.

SF 220, the "Medical Ethics Defense Act," protects medical practitioners (including doctors and nurses), health care institutions (like hospitals), and health care payors (such as insurance companies) from discrimination when they refuse to provide specific health care services based on their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. The bill prohibits retaliation, including penalties or disciplinary actions, for such refusals and grants legal immunity from civil, criminal, or administrative liability. It also shields individuals who report violations of these protections to authorities like the attorney general or federal agencies. However, the law does not override the requirement for health care institutions to provide emergency medical services.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareProtects providers refusing services based on conscience, limiting patient access to specific care like abortion or contraception.85% confidence

Track

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

Track

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

Track

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

Track

signed · Iowa · House Jun 18, 2025

HF 972: A bill for an act relating to health care including a funding model for the rural health care system; the elimination of several health care-related award, grant, residency, and fellowship programs; establishment of a health care professional incentive program; Medicaid graduate medical education; the health facilities council; and the Iowa health information network, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

HF 972, now law after Governor's signature on May 28, 2025, establishes a new funding model for Iowa's rural healthcare systems while eliminating several existing health care programs. It removes specific award, grant, residency, and fellowship programs, and creates a new incentive program to attract healthcare professionals to underserved areas. The bill also modifies Medicaid funding for graduate medical education, updates the Health Facilities Council, and addresses the Iowa Health Information Network, with all changes including necessary funding appropriations. These changes directly affect rural health providers, medical training programs, and state health agencies managing these systems.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareEliminates multiple existing health care programs (awards, grants, residencies) while creating a new incentive program, indicating defunding of established initiatives despite new funding model.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid