This bill clarifies the authority of a health care decision-maker (attorney in fact) appointed under a durable power of attorney for health care in Iowa. It requires the decision-maker to follow the person's expressed wishes as written in the power of attorney, a separate life-sustaining procedures declaration, or communicated directly to them. The bill specifies that verbal requests to others or other documents cannot restrict the decision-maker's authority unless the power of attorney document explicitly states limitations. If the person's wishes are unknown, the decision-maker must act in their best interests based on medical condition and prognosis.
This bill requires Iowa public schools serving students in grades 7-12 to list the "Your Life Iowa" suicide prevention program's contact information (phone, text numbers, and website) as a resource on their school websites. It also mandates that schools issuing student ID cards to grades 7-12 must include this information on the cards, with schools serving grades 5-6 allowed to optionally include it. The law directly affects students in these grade levels by making suicide prevention resources more accessible through school-issued materials and online platforms. It does not change existing suicide prevention services but ensures schools proactively share this specific resource.
This bill creates a new health care-related tax on health maintenance organizations operating in Iowa, requiring them to pay 0.95% of their taxable funds to a newly established Medicaid managed care organization premiums health care tax fund. The tax applies to payments received from enrollees for health care services and benefits, while excluding certain federal payments, and includes provisions for prepayment, credit refunds, and enforcement measures like license suspension for nonpayment. Additionally, the legislation appropriates funds from the taxpayer relief fund and supplements appropriations to the Department of Health and Human Services, with specific effective dates and retroactive applicability provisions included.
This bill creates a new health care-related tax on health maintenance organizations operating in Iowa, with revenues deposited into a new Medicaid managed care organization premiums health care tax fund. The tax rate begins at 3.5% for the first nine months of 2026 before dropping to 0.95% for the remainder of that year and all subsequent years, applying to payments made by these organizations for health care services and benefits. The legislation also establishes prepayment requirements, allowing organizations to pay estimated taxes in advance and receive credits or cash refunds if they overpay. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for tax collection, penalties for late payments, and the ability to offset certain assessments against this new tax liability.
SF 319, titled "The Patient’s Right to Save Act," requires health care providers to disclose the discounted cash price for each specific service they accept as payment. Providers must share this price in advance, including any variations based on timing, location, or patient income, and inform patients that cash payments may not be cheaper than insurance-negotiated rates. The bill mandates annual reviews of these prices and requires clear communication about cash payment options to both insured and uninsured patients before services are provided. It directly affects health care providers who accept cash payments, aiming to increase price transparency for consumers.
HF 1049 is an appropriations bill that allocates state funds to the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services. It directly affects programs including aging and disability services, behavioral health initiatives, the medical assistance program, and state-operated specialty care. The bill specifically includes funding for sex reassignment surgeries or associated procedures within health-related programs. Signed into law on June 11, 2025, it provides financial support for these services and includes reporting requirements for unspent funds.
HF 1038 allocates funds from Iowa's opioid settlement to state agencies addressing the opioid crisis, directly affecting programs that provide treatment, prevention, and recovery services. The bill specifies how the money is distributed (disbursed) to eligible state entities and includes rules for when the funding takes effect, including retroactive application for prior periods. It does not change eligibility for the settlement funds but establishes the legal framework for their use. The bill passed unanimously and was signed into law by the Governor on June 6, 2025.
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.
SF 288 requires public colleges and universities governed by the Board of Regents and community colleges to provide academic accommodations for students who are pregnant or who recently gave birth. The law specifically allows these students to withdraw from courses without academic penalty if pregnancy or childbirth prevents them from continuing their studies. Institutions must also provide clear information about available support services, including health care and childcare resources. This policy directly affects pregnant and postpartum students enrolled at these specific public higher education institutions.
This bill enacts changes across several areas overseen by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. It introduces definitions for "behavioral health districts" and "disability access points" and establishes new restrictions on who can serve as an advocate for involuntarily hospitalized patients, excluding those affiliated with administrative services organizations (ASOs) or care providers. The bill also updates child foster care laws to formally include "approved kinship caregivers" alongside licensed foster parents, granting them decision-making authority under the "reasonable and prudent parent standard" and ensuring their participation in care planning. These provisions directly affect individuals receiving mental health and disability services, children in foster care, and the various organizations involved in providing these services.
