Healthcare (Hospitals) in Iowa

signed · Iowa · House May 1, 2025

HF 919: A bill for an act relating to children’s specialty hospital designations for certain nonprofit organizations, and including effective date provisions.

House File 919 creates a new "specialty hospital" designation for certain nonprofit organizations in Iowa that were previously licensed nursing facilities. These hospitals must primarily serve individuals aged 30 and younger, with a high percentage of patients receiving Medicaid, and specialize in pediatric rehabilitation or complex medical/behavioral health needs. The bill directs state departments to grant qualifying entities a provisional general hospital license by July 1, 2025, enabling them to receive enhanced hospital-based reimbursement set at their average allowable per diem costs. It also allows for waivers from certain hospital facility requirements, construction standards, and exemptions from providing specific emergency, laboratory, or pathology services beyond what they currently offer. Furthermore, the bill permits the redesignation of nursing facility beds to specialty hospital beds and expansion up to 100 beds.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Children's Health Hospitals

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 ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SF 2248: A bill for an act providing for paid family and medical leave to certain employees who have a child receiving inpatient care in a neonatal intensive care unit.

This bill requires Iowa employers with 10 or more full-time employees to provide up to 12 weeks of paid leave to workers whose child is hospitalized in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The leave must be paid at the employee's regular hourly rate or salary, including all benefits like health insurance. Employers who fail to comply face penalties, including back pay and legal costs, with enforcement handled by the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing. It directly affects Iowa workers with newborns in NICU care and their employers.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance Paid Leave

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2449: A bill for an act authorizing school districts to enter into agreements with cities and counties for the purpose of jointly procuring a group health insurance plan, nonprofit group hospital service plan, nonprofit group medical service plan, or group life insurance plan.

HF 2449 allows Iowa school districts to partner with cities and counties to jointly purchase group health insurance, nonprofit hospital plans, nonprofit medical plans, or group life insurance for their employees. Currently, school districts can only partner with other school districts or area education agencies for these plans, but this bill expands that option to include municipal and county governments. The key change is amending Iowa Code 279.12 to explicitly permit these new agreements, while clarifying they won't be classified as federal "multiple employer welfare arrangements." This directly affects school districts, cities, and counties seeking cost-effective health insurance solutions for their workforce.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Insurance

died · Iowa · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 2094: A bill for an act directing the department of health and human services to increase the number of inpatient psychiatric beds at each state mental health institute.

HF 2094 requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to at least double the number of inpatient psychiatric beds at each state mental health institute by July 1, 2027, using the bed count from June 30, 2025, as the baseline. The bill also mandates that the department apply for a federal Medicaid waiver by October 1, 2026, to allow Medicaid funding for these additional beds. This policy directly affects Iowa's state mental health institutes by requiring them to expand capacity and navigate federal funding changes. The bill aims to increase access to inpatient psychiatric care through concrete, time-bound requirements.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Mental Health

died · Iowa · House Mar 16, 2026

HF 2033: A bill for an act relating to the provision of accessible prescription-related measures for persons who are blind, have a visual impairment, or other print disability.

HF 2033 requires pharmacies in Iowa to provide free accessible prescription information (including labels, bag tags, and medical guides) in formats like braille or audio to people who are blind, visually impaired, or have other print disabilities. Pharmacies must offer this directly or refer patients to an accessible location within a reasonable distance, with information provided in a timely manner comparable to non-disabled patients. Health insurers must reimburse pharmacies through an enhanced dispensing fee, and the pharmacy board must publish an annual list of compliant pharmacies online. The law excludes institutional pharmacies (e.g., hospital pharmacies) and certain correctional or donation-based settings, with rules to be adopted by January 1, 2027, and a progress report due by January 2028.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals Prescription Drugs

signed · Iowa · House Jun 27, 2025

HF 1049: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the department of veterans affairs and the department of health and human services, and related provisions and appropriations, including aging and disability services; behavioral health, public health, community access and eligibility; the medical assistance program, state supplementary assistance, Hawki, and other health-related programs; sex reassignment surgeries or associated procedures; family well-being and protection; state-operated specialty care, administration and compliance; transfers, cash flows, and nonreversions; prior appropriations; the beer and liquor control fund, and the behavioral health fund; report on nonreversion of moneys; emergency rules; and a hospital directed payment program; and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

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.

Topics ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics Hospitals

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 11, 2025

HF 362: A bill for an act designating emergency medical services as an essential county purpose.

HF 362 designates emergency medical services (EMS) as an "essential county purpose" in Iowa, directly affecting counties that provide EMS. This change would allow county boards to issue general obligation bonds for EMS funding without requiring voter approval at an election - unlike general county purposes, which typically need voter consent. The bill amends Iowa Code section 331.441 to include EMS under the definition of "essential county purpose," referencing the statutory definition in section 147A.1, subsection 5. This policy change streamlines funding for EMS services by removing a voter approval hurdle for bond issuance.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals

died · Iowa · House Mar 21, 2025

HF 124: A bill for an act relating to discharge of involuntarily committed persons from a facility or a hospital.

HF 124 requires mental health facilities and hospitals to follow specific steps before discharging people involuntarily committed for mental health treatment. Facilities must refer patients to administrative services organizations, assess suicide risk, provide a 30-day supply of prescribed medications, and create detailed discharge reports including appointment schedules, medication lists, crisis prevention plans, and educational materials about mental health symptoms. The bill also mandates post-discharge coordination by these organizations through follow-ups and home visits, and requires facilities to report discharges to the court for confirmation. This directly affects individuals receiving involuntary mental health treatment in Iowa facilities, aiming to improve continuity of care and safety after discharge.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Hospitals

died · Iowa · Senate May 14, 2025

SF 649: A bill for an act relating to and making appropriations to the department of veterans affairs and the department of health and human services, and related provisions and appropriations, including aging and disability services; behavioral health, public health, community access and eligibility; the medical assistance program, state supplementary assistance, Hawki, and other health-related programs; family well-being and protection; state-operated specialty care; administration and compliance; transfers, cash flows, and nonreversions; prior appropriations; the beer and liquor control fund, and the behavioral health fund; report on nonreversion of moneys; emergency rules; more options for maternal support program; and a hospital directed payment program; and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

Senate File 649 is a legislative bill that appropriates state funds for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. It allocates money to the Department of Veterans Affairs for administration, the Iowa Veterans Home, and a home ownership assistance program for eligible service members. The bill also provides funding to the Department of Health and Human Services for aging and disability services, including programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Additionally, it appropriates funds for behavioral health initiatives, such as prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts for substance use and problem gambling, impacting individuals and families across the state. These appropriations support various public health programs and services.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Healthcare ✓ Veterans

Sub-Topics State Budget Hospitals Substance Abuse

All healthcare bills