Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 15, 2026

HF 2185: A bill for an act relating to cost sharing for health savings accounts and qualified high-deductible health plans.

HF 2185 ensures that people enrolled in qualified high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with health savings accounts (HSAs) can maintain their HSA eligibility. It requires that copays, coinsurance, or deductibles paid by the enrollee only count toward their deductible *after* they’ve met their minimum deductible, unless the service is preventive care. This prevents cost-sharing payments from accidentally making someone ineligible for an HSA. The bill applies to group health insurance and accident/health insurance plans in Iowa.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcarePreserves HSA eligibility for HDHP enrollees, preventing accidental loss of tax-advantaged healthcare savings access.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 13, 2026

HF 2635: A bill for an act relating to health carriers standards of conduct; utilization review organizations, artificial intelligence, audits, and prior authorizations; certificate of need processes; and including applicability provisions.

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.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits AI-only denials of medically necessary care, mandates physician review, and enforces strict timelines to protect patient access and rights in healthcare claims processing.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits AI as sole method for healthcare claim denials, restricting AI application in medical decision-making per bill language.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 6, 2026

HF 2256: A bill for an act exempting a parent’s or legal guardian’s inability to access appropriate behavioral or mental health treatment for their child from the definition of child abuse.

HF 2256 expands Iowa's criteria for identifying a child as needing assistance (CINA) due to chemical dependency, mental health issues, or behavioral disorders. The bill allows courts to declare a child a CINA if they require treatment for serious chemical dependency, mental illness, or behavioral health issues that threaten safety or cause aggressive behavior, and the parent/guardian is unwilling or unable to secure that treatment. It removes an outdated subsection (232.96A(13)) to align the law with this expanded definition. This change directly affects children needing specialized treatment and their families when parents cannot or will not seek care.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands treatment access for youth with mental health/substance issues to prevent escalation to criminal justice system, aligning with reform goals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to mental health/substance use treatment for children via CINA criteria, strengthening healthcare access for vulnerable youth.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 6, 2026

HF 648: A bill for an act relating to a licensed sedation provider host permit for a dentist.

HF 648 allows dentists in Iowa to obtain a "licensed sedation provider host permit" to employ qualified sedation providers during dental procedures. To qualify, dentists must complete a board-approved course covering patient assessment, emergency response, and sedation management; meet facility/equipment standards; and hold advanced cardiac life support certification. A permitted dentist may then employ licensed physicians, anesthesiologists, or nurse anesthetists to administer moderate sedation to patients aged 13 or older during outpatient dental care, while monitoring patient safety. The Iowa Dental Board will annually review and approve sedation training courses to ensure they meet specific educational standards before issuing permits.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands dental sedation access by enabling dentists to employ qualified sedation providers under safety standards, improving patient access to dental care services.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · Senate May 2, 2026

SF 2496: A bill for an act relating to Iowa’s urban renewal law by modifying the division of revenue for certain emergency medical services property tax levies, and including effective date and applicability provisions.

This bill modifies Iowa's urban renewal law to change how property tax revenue is shared for emergency medical services. Specifically, it prevents taxes collected for emergency medical services from being used to pay off municipal loans or fund urban renewal projects. Instead, these taxes must be collected from all property within the taxing district without being diverted to a special fund for city debt or low-income housing assistance. The changes apply to property taxes due in fiscal years starting on or after July 1, 2026, and take effect immediately upon signing.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill prevents diversion of emergency medical services tax revenue to debt or urban renewal, ensuring funds remain for essential public services.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill ensures dedicated funding for emergency medical services by preventing diversion of tax revenues, thereby protecting and strengthening healthcare financial resources.75% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 2305: A bill for an act relating to health care decisions related to palliative care, hospice programs, life-sustaining procedures, out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate orders, durable power of attorney for health care, and probate court guardianship reports.

This Iowa bill clarifies who can make healthcare decisions for patients who are terminally ill and unable to communicate. It establishes a priority order for decision-makers: first an attorney in fact (designated in a health care power of attorney), then a court-appointed guardian, spouse, or adult children. The law specifically applies to decisions about hospice care, palliative care, life-sustaining treatments, and out-of-hospital do-not-resuscitate orders. It ensures that designated representatives or family members can guide end-of-life care when patients cannot express their wishes.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies patient decision-making for end-of-life care, protecting autonomy in hospice/palliative settings per designated representatives.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House May 2, 2026

HF 2523: A bill for an act establishing the right of a parent or guardian of a minor child to consent to and authorize certain medical services over the minor child’s objection.

HF 2523 allows parents or legal guardians to seek substance use or mental health treatment for minors (under 18) without court involvement. It protects confidentiality by prohibiting disclosure of a minor’s treatment to law enforcement or others without consent, and ensures minors can consent to treatment themselves in some cases. The bill amends Iowa law to clarify that facilities must admit minors for treatment when parents/guardians apply, with referral options if denied. This directly affects minors needing treatment and their families, streamlining access while safeguarding privacy. The bill is currently under review by the Health and Human Services Subcommittee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEnables direct access to mental health/substance use treatment for minors without court barriers, protects confidentiality, and mandates facility admission - directly advancing mental health services access.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · Senate Apr 30, 2026

SF 2184: A bill for an act relating to licenses to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery, and administrative medicine licenses.

SF 2184 updates Iowa's licensing rules for medical doctors (both allopathic and osteopathic) and administrative medicine license holders. It requires licenses to expire on the licensee's birthday, limits renewal to every three years, caps continuing education at 15 hours annually, and mandates final license decisions within 45 days (or 75 days with notice of delays). The bill directly affects all physicians and administrative medicine licensees in Iowa by streamlining application processing and reducing recurring requirements. Key provisions include standardized license terms, simplified renewal rules, and clear timelines for board decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStreamlines medical licensing processes, reducing bureaucratic delays for physicians and administrative medicine licensees, improving access to healthcare services.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 2680: A bill for an act relating to certified medication aides.

HF 2680 simplifies certification for medication aides working in Iowa nursing homes, residential care facilities, and specialized care centers. The bill requires Iowa's Department of Inspections to create a free online registry where medication aides can submit proof of passing exams, eliminating fees for accessing or submitting certification records. It also allows aides certified in other states to become certified in Iowa without retaking nurse aide exams or meeting additional employment requirements. The bill rescinds outdated administrative rules about medication aide training and mandates new rules to standardize certification across all relevant facilities.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSimplifies certification for medication aides, eliminates fees for registry access, and allows out-of-state reciprocity to improve staffing access in nursing homes and care facilities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare

signed · Iowa · House Apr 16, 2026

HF 2434: A bill for an act relating to insurance coverage for health care services provided pursuant to a referral by an out-of-network primary care provider.

HF 2434 requires insurance companies in Iowa to cover health care services referred by an out-of-network primary care provider (PCP) without charging higher out-of-pocket costs than for in-network referrals. It directly affects patients who rely on PCPs not in their insurance network, ensuring they face the same deductible, copay, or coinsurance as if the PCP were in-network. The law prohibits insurers from denying coverage solely based on the PCP’s network status and allows them to verify if the patient has a direct primary care agreement with that PCP. This bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to referrals made after that date.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to cover out-of-network PCP referrals at in-network cost levels, improving patient access and protecting rights without higher out-of-pocket costs.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Healthcare