Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Jan 26, 2026

HF 2097: A bill for an act relating to immunization information requested on a medical examiner report used for investigations.

HF 2097 requires medical examiners investigating infant deaths (ages zero to three) to include specific immunization details in their reports. The bill mandates that reports request the date and type of the decedent’s last vaccination, and if multiple shots were given at once, all must be listed. This affects medical examiners and healthcare providers who supply immunization records during these investigations. The state medical examiner must later develop implementing rules under Iowa’s administrative procedures.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates immunization data collection for infant death investigations, supporting public health tracking and program effectiveness within healthcare policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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died · Iowa · House Mar 2, 2026

HF 2114: A bill for an act authorizing the parent or legal guardian of a child to have the child committed for substance use or mental health treatment.

HF 2114 allows parents or legal guardians to seek substance use or mental health treatment for minors (under 18) without court involvement. The bill amends Iowa law to let guardians apply directly to treatment facilities or healthcare providers for their child's care, with strict confidentiality protections. It prohibits reporting a minor's treatment details to law enforcement without consent and creates penalties for unauthorized disclosure. The bill also specifies that a minor’s admission to treatment cannot be subject to court jurisdiction if the minor and guardian consent. This applies directly to minors needing substance use or mental health services in Iowa.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves court barriers for minors' mental health/substance treatment access, enhancing patient access to care per bill's direct language.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 13, 2026

HF 2010: A bill for an act relating to the advertising of prescription drugs and vaccines and providing civil penalties.

HF 2010, the "Iowa Pharmaceutical Advertising Transparency and Consumer Protection Act," requires pharmaceutical companies and government entities to disclose key information in television advertisements for prescription drugs and vaccines starting January 1, 2027. Specifically, ads must clearly state the highest cost (either a 30-day supply or full treatment) and list all common and serious side effects in plain language with equal visual and auditory emphasis. Pharmaceutical companies must also wait 12 months after FDA approval before advertising. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation (with daily violations counting separately), enforced by the Attorney General and paid into a consumer protection fund. This bill directly affects drug manufacturers and government health campaigns advertising in Iowa.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires clear disclosure of drug costs and side effects in ads, protecting consumer rights and enabling informed healthcare decisions.85% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 14, 2026

HF 2053: A bill for an act relating to the standardization of claim submission and reimbursement processes of managed care organizations.

HF 2053 standardizes how managed care organizations (MCOs) submit claims and get reimbursed for medical services under Iowa's medical assistance program. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to create uniform rules for claim processing and reimbursement levels by July 1, 2027, considering efficiency, federal rules, and funding. All existing MCO contracts must be updated to follow this standardized process, and new contracts after July 1, 2027, must include it. This directly affects MCOs managing Medicaid-like programs and healthcare providers who submit claims for patient services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareStandardizes MCO reimbursement processes to improve efficiency and compliance within medical assistance program, supporting system functionality and access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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died · Iowa · House Apr 29, 2026

HF 2057: A bill for an act providing a standing appropriation to the state board of regents for pediatric cancer research at the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics.

HF 2057 establishes a permanent annual funding stream for pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa hospitals and clinics. It appropriates $1 per Iowa resident (based on U.S. Census population estimates), capped at $3 million yearly, from the state general fund. The funds must be used exclusively for pediatric cancer research - including lab work and clinical trials - prohibiting administrative costs or unrelated activities. The state board of regents must submit an annual report detailing how the funds were spent to the governor and legislature. This bill directly affects Iowa residents (through funding) and the University of Iowa's pediatric cancer research programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates permanent $3M annual appropriation from state general fund for pediatric cancer research, directly funding a public health program via state budget.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds pediatric cancer research at University of Iowa through dedicated state appropriation, directly advancing healthcare research and treatment options for a critical health issue.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Children's Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 14, 2026

HF 2040: A bill for an act relating to damage awards against health care providers, and including applicability provisions.

HF 2040 removes limits on compensation for patients suing healthcare providers in Iowa. It eliminates the $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages (like pain and suffering) for most cases, and removes the exception that previously allowed up to $1 million or $2 million for severe injuries like disfigurement or death. The bill also removes the exclusion of "loss of dependent care" (such as child care costs after a parent's death or injury) from noneconomic damages. Additionally, it strikes provisions requiring that punitive damages be paid to claimants in healthcare cases or to a state trust fund. The law applies to cases filed on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves damage caps for medical malpractice suits, enabling full compensation for pain/suffering and dependent care, directly strengthening patient rights in healthcare.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SF 2048: A bill for an act relating to insurance coverage and Medicaid coverage for annual lung cancer screenings for at-risk individuals.

This bill requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover annual low-dose CT scans for lung cancer screening for specific at-risk individuals. It defines "at-risk" as people aged 40+ who smoke, have a family history of lung cancer, or have regular exposure to certain carcinogens like asbestos or radon. Private insurance must cover these screenings without cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays), effective January 1, 2027, for most health plans. Medicaid coverage is contingent on securing a federal waiver, after which it must also cover these screenings. The bill excludes certain specialized insurance types, such as accident-only or dental coverage, from these requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates insurance/Medicaid coverage for lung cancer screenings without cost-sharing, expanding access to at-risk populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 29, 2026

HF 2205: A bill for an act relating to the prescribing, ordering, dispensing, and administering authority of pharmacists and practitioners.

HF 2205 prohibits state licensing boards and employers from restricting pharmacists or practitioners (like doctors, nurses, or dentists) from using their professional judgment to prescribe, order, dispense, or administer medications within their legally defined scope of practice. It specifically bans any rule, policy, or contract term that discourages using a medication or treatment based on the professional's best judgment. Employers cannot enforce such restrictions or use them for disciplinary action, and practitioners following this judgment cannot face license discipline. The bill directly affects healthcare providers by protecting their clinical decision-making autonomy from workplace barriers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProhibits restrictions on pharmacists/practitioners' professional judgment in prescribing, expanding patient access to care within legal scope of practice.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects pharmacists/practitioners from employer restrictions on professional judgment, advancing workers' rights in employment context by preventing disciplinary actions for exercising scope of practice.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Prescription Drugs

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 28, 2026

SSB 3080: A bill for an act relating to the requirements for authorized electronic monitoring in nursing facilities, and providing penalties.

This bill (SSB 3080) allows nursing home residents or their designated representatives to install and use electronic monitoring devices (like cameras) in their rooms for personal monitoring. It requires written consent from the resident (or their representative if the resident lacks capacity) and from any roommate in a shared room, with clear explanations of device use and recording rules. Nursing facilities must attempt to accommodate monitoring requests by offering alternative shared rooms (or private rooms at additional cost) if a roommate refuses consent. The bill establishes specific procedures for consent, conditions, and withdrawal of monitoring, aiming to balance resident privacy rights with facility operations.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllows nursing home residents to install monitoring devices with consent, protecting patient rights and safety in healthcare facilities per bill's consent and accommodation requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 5, 2026

SF 2151: A bill for an act removing psilocybin and psilocyn from the list of substances classified as schedule I controlled substances under Iowa’s uniform controlled substances Act.

This bill removes psilocybin and psilocybin (the active compounds in magic mushrooms) from Iowa’s Schedule I controlled substances list under state law. Schedule I substances are defined as having high abuse potential and no accepted medical use. The change would reclassify these substances under less restrictive drug laws, potentially enabling medical research or regulated personal use. The bill is currently under review by the Health and Human Services committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareReclassifies psilocybin for medical research, enabling potential mental health treatment development, aligning with healthcare advancement indicators.85% confidence

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