HF 933: A bill for an act relating to pediatric palliative care centers, and including effective date provisions. - Iowa

Enrolled with Governor's Action → Reprinted · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was reprinted with updated formatting and corrected statutory references. The substantive policy content remains largely the same, though some section numbers and code citations were adjusted to align with the current Iowa Code structure. The core provisions establishing pediatric palliative care centers, defining eligible patients, and outlining facility requirements are preserved.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on establishing pediatric palliative care centers in Iowa, but the specific code sections referenced were updated to reflect current statutory organization (e.g., changing from 135C.2 to 10A.713 for certain provisions).

TECHNICAL

Statutory references were updated to match current Iowa Code structure, including changes from 135C.2 to 10A.713 and reorganization of subsection numbers.

New definitions for DMEPOS (durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies) and DMEPOS supplier were added to align with federal regulations.

The bill was reformatted from a line-by-line legislative markup to a clean reprint version with proper page numbers and formatting.

Emergency rules provision was removed from the final version, indicating the bill will be implemented through standard rulemaking rather than emergency authority.

Enrolled → Enrolled with Governor's Action · 5 edits · May 27, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify definitions and operational requirements for pediatric palliative care centers, shifting focus from general residential care facilities to specialized centers that provide respite and hospice services. The changes include updated definitions of 'hospice patient' and 'pediatric palliative care center', new operational rules for staffing and patient capacity, and expanded eligibility for funding sources.

Scope change

The bill's scope was refined to specifically target pediatric palliative care centers as a distinct classification, with clearer criteria for patient eligibility and facility requirements.

DEFINITION

Definition of 'hospice patient' was expanded to include both terminally ill individuals (life expectancy one year or less) and pediatric patients under 21 with chronic life-threatening illnesses not expected to survive past age 21.

REQUIREMENT

New operational requirements were added for pediatric palliative care centers, including a maximum of twelve patients at one time, mandatory registered nurse or licensed practical nurse presence, and specific rules for medication handling and family visitation space.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility criteria for facilities were clarified to establish a special classification for residential care facilities that primarily serve pediatric palliative care patients and provide only respite and hospice services.

FISCAL

Pediatric palliative care centers were granted eligibility for various funding sources including federal social services block grants, state supplementary assistance programs, hospice respite benefits, and home and community-based services waivers.

TECHNICAL

Technical amendments were made to cross-reference sections and subsections within the Iowa Code, updating citations from section 135C.2 to section 135J.1 and related subsections.

Introduced → Signed Enrolled Bill (PDF) · 7 edits · May 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill creates a new category of residential care facilities called 'pediatric palliative care centers' to serve children under 21 with chronic, life-threatening illnesses. It expands eligibility for funding and exempts these centers from certain nursing facility requirements, while maintaining oversight through new rules.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of care by creating a new facility classification that can serve children with chronic illnesses (not just terminally ill patients) and provides respite care services.

DEFINITION

Added new definition for 'pediatric palliative care center' as a residential care facility serving children under 21 with chronic, life-threatening illnesses who are not expected to survive past age 21.

Modified definition of 'hospice patient' to include children under 21 with chronic, complex, life-threatening illnesses expected to shorten life expectancy, in addition to terminally ill patients.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded eligibility to include children with chronic complex illnesses (not just terminally ill) and allows centers to provide respite care services.

FISCAL

Made pediatric palliative care centers eligible for funding sources available to hospice programs, including federal social services block grants, state supplementary assistance, and other state funding.

REQUIREMENT

Requires pediatric palliative care centers to have registered nurses or licensed practical nurses onsite and available at all times when patients are present.

Requires adequate space for families to visit, cook, eat with, and stay overnight with patients.

ENFORCEMENT

Requires the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt rules and establish a special classification for these facilities, exempting them from certain certificate of need requirements.

Signed Enrolled Bill (PDF) → Enrolled · 3 edits · May 27, 2025

MINOR

The bill was finalized and signed into law, transitioning from the Governor's transmission document to the official enrolled version. The substantive policy content remains largely the same, though some formatting and signature lines were adjusted during the finalization process.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; the enrolled version is the legally binding text that will be implemented.

TECHNICAL

Removed the Governor's signature block and transmission letter text, replacing it with the official enrolled certification including signatures from the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and Chief Clerk of the House.

Cleaned up formatting inconsistencies in the bill text, including standardizing line breaks and removing extraneous characters from the original PDF scan.

Adjusted the section numbering and layout to match standard enrolled bill formatting, though the substantive content of Sections 1-5 remains unchanged.

A bill for an act relating to pediatric palliative care centers, and including effective date provisions.

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