HF 2518 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to establish new processes for reviewing and adjusting Medicaid reimbursement rates for specific providers. It mandates biennial reviews of shelter care and residential treatment costs against current rates (reporting by October 1), annual comparisons of medical service rates to Medicare (non-dental) or neighboring states' Medicaid (dental) (reporting by January 15), and four-year updates to home and community-based waiver service rates using provider cost data. Providers must submit annual cost and supply data by July 1, which the department uses to develop cost-based reimbursement systems. The bill ensures regular rate adjustments based on actual costs and market data, with detailed fiscal impact reports submitted to lawmakers before implementing new rates.
HF 970 allocates $1 million for Iowa's Double Up Food Bucks program, which helps SNAP recipients buy fresh produce at farmers markets and grocery stores. It requires grant recipients to match funds dollar-for-dollar and ensures the funds remain available beyond the fiscal year. The bill also seeks federal approval to restrict SNAP-eligible foods to healthy items like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. This food eligibility change would take effect only after the USDA approves the modification. The program funding becomes effective upon federal approval of the food rules.
House File 995 amends Iowa's medical cannabidiol laws. This bill removes the current requirement that an individual must be a resident of Iowa to receive a medical cannabidiol registration card. It achieves this by striking specific code sections that mandate Iowa residency and by removing the word "Iowa" from references to a patient's residence address when applying for the card. As a result, non-residents of Iowa would become eligible to obtain a medical cannabidiol registration card in the state.
HF 383 would remove the pharmaceutical form of psilocybin (specifically crystalline polymorph COMP 360) from Iowa's Schedule I controlled substances list once the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves it and reschedules it under federal law. This would allow doctors to legally prescribe, distribute, and market COMP 360 for medical use, directly affecting healthcare providers and patients seeking this treatment. The bill automatically aligns Iowa law with federal FDA decisions on this specific pharmaceutical formulation. Note: The bill was vetoed by the governor on June 11, 2025, so it has not become law.
HF 330 requires health insurance plans to cover evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) for individuals diagnosed with ASD. It directly affects people with ASD who have health insurance, mandating that insurers provide this coverage without excessive cost-sharing. The bill establishes specific requirements for insurance companies to include ASD treatment services in their coverage, applying to most health insurance plans. This law, signed by the Governor on June 11, 2025, ensures that individuals with ASD can access necessary treatment through their insurance.
HF 310 strengthens penalties for assaults targeting specific professionals, including healthcare providers. The bill makes existing assault penalties applicable when attacks occur against individuals working in certain occupations, such as healthcare. It directly affects individuals in these professions by ensuring assaults against them face the same legal consequences as other violent crimes. The key provision clarifies that penalties for assaulting these workers will be enforced without additional modifications to existing law.
This bill requires various educational institutions, child care providers, and the state's health department to include information about immunization exemptions when communicating about immunization requirements. This directly affects parents, legal guardians, and students who receive these communications.
Specifically, elementary and secondary schools, licensed child care centers, and all other child care facilities must include exemption details in communications to parents and on their websites or registration materials. Community colleges, state universities, and private higher education institutions are also required to adopt policies ensuring students receive exemption information when notified about immunization requirements. Additionally, the state's health department must include exemption information in any public communication following an immunization recommendation.
HF 300 creates a multi-state agreement (compact) allowing physician assistants licensed in one participating state to practice in other compact states without needing separate licenses. It directly affects physician assistants seeking to work across state lines and healthcare facilities in participating states. The key provision establishes a standardized licensing process where a license issued by one compact state is recognized by all others in the agreement. This reduces administrative barriers for physician assistants and expands their ability to provide care in multiple states without reapplying for licenses. The bill was signed into law by the Governor on May 27, 2025.
This bill expands Iowa's "Right to Try" Act by broadening the definition of an "eligible patient." Previously limited to individuals with terminal illnesses, the bill now includes patients with life-threatening or severely debilitating illnesses. These patients can access "individualized investigational treatments," which are drugs or products unique to their genetic profile and have successfully completed Phase 1 clinical trials. The bill also defines "eligible facilities" and updates the specific requirements for written informed consent for patients with terminal illnesses.
This bill updates state law by expanding the definition of a "peer review committee." It specifically includes statewide nonprofit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) within this definition. This change grants OPOs the same legal status and protections typically afforded to other peer review committees, such as those in hospitals or medical societies. The bill directly affects organ procurement organizations operating in the state by formally recognizing their internal review processes under this designation.
