This bill (SSB 3118) prohibits utilization review organizations (insurance companies that approve medical treatments) from using artificial intelligence as the sole basis to deny, delay, or downgrade prior authorization requests for medically necessary care. It requires human review by qualified medical professionals - either a "qualified reviewer" (a physician in the same specialty) or a "clinical peer" (a non-physician specialist) - for all denials or downgrades. The bill mandates written explanations for denials, including specific reasons and reviewer credentials, and requires a consultation between the provider and reviewer within seven business days of denial. It directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers requesting coverage, and patients needing treatment approvals.
SF 2421 would have required healthcare review groups to use human reviewers - not solely artificial intelligence - for decisions denying, delaying, or downgrading prior authorizations (e.g., changing urgent requests to standard ones). It mandated that denials include written explanations citing specific criteria, along with detailed attestations about the reviewer’s qualifications and specialty expertise. The bill also required separate human reviews for appeals and prohibited the same reviewer from handling both initial denials and appeals. This bill was withdrawn on March 4, 2026, and did not become law.
HF 2635 sets new rules for health insurance companies and claim review organizations (utilization review organizations) in Iowa, directly affecting health care providers and patients. It prohibits using artificial intelligence as the sole method to deny, delay, or downgrade prior authorizations for medically necessary services, requiring instead a qualified physician review. The bill also establishes strict timelines for audits (45 days to complete after receiving documents) and appeals (30 days for a final decision), with penalties including 10% interest for violations. These changes apply to most health insurance plans in Iowa starting January 1, 2027, but exclude certain coverages like dental, Medicare supplements, and short-term policies.
SF 2106, the "Iowa Residential Rent Fairness and Anticollusion Act," prohibits landlords managing five or more properties from coordinating rent prices with other landlords or using algorithmic rent-setting systems that rely on nonpublic competitor data. It specifically bans software, AI, or automated tools that set rent based on secret data from other landlords without human review, treating this as price fixing. Violators face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per rental unit per month, injunctions, and restitution for tenants overcharged. The bill also requires landlords and algorithm providers to maintain records for five years and allows tenants to sue for damages if harmed by violations.
HF 2150 requires AI-generated content advocating for or against election candidates or ballot issues to clearly disclose it was created using artificial intelligence (e.g., "this material was generated using AI"). It prohibits AI from creating fake endorsements of candidates or ballot measures and bans using AI to depict candidates engaging in unlikely behavior, staging non-existent events, or manipulating depictions of major events to influence elections or public opinion. The bill also restricts sharing third-party AI content without making a good-faith effort to remove it and disclose its AI origin. Violations can result in fines up to $50,000 for political committees or $5,000 for candidates/public officials, with penalties deposited into the state general fund.
