Healthcare

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.

HF 2716 requests federal waivers to improve administration of Iowa's SNAP (supplemental nutrition), medical assistance, and WIC programs. It would require quarterly error rate reports for SNAP starting in 2026, allow exclusion of income for minors in school from household calculations, permit use of automated data (like unemployment records) for verification, and modify how payment errors are reported. The bill also adjusts medical assistance rules to disregard certain income for disabled individuals under 65 and mandates error rate reporting for medical programs. These changes aim to streamline eligibility processing and reporting for federal public assistance programs under Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services.

SF 615 adds work requirements for participants in Iowa's health and wellness plan and Medicaid for employed people with disabilities, directly affecting eligible residents receiving these specific public assistance benefits. The bill requires individuals to meet certain work or training hours to maintain eligibility, alongside provisions for related funding mechanisms like the information technology fund and public assistance modernization fund. It became law after the Governor signed it on June 6, 2025, implementing these new eligibility conditions for the specified programs. The policy change modifies existing program rules without altering benefit amounts or creating new programs.

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.