Healthcare (Primary Care) in Iowa

in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 11, 2025

SSB 1060: A bill for an act relating to cost-sharing requirements for supplemental and diagnostic breast examinations.

This Iowa bill (SSB 1060) prohibits health insurance plans from charging patients out-of-pocket costs (like copays or deductibles) for required supplemental and diagnostic breast examinations. It directly affects Iowa residents with health insurance who need these specific follow-up or diagnostic breast exams. The bill defines "cost-sharing" broadly and requires insurers to cover these exams without additional patient payments, with a limited exception for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs): the no-cost rule applies only after the patient meets their annual deductible, except for preventive care. The law takes effect for new or renewed insurance policies in Iowa starting January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Insurance Primary Care

in committee · Iowa · House Feb 13, 2025

HF 12: A bill for an act relating to medical residency positions and audition clinicals for medical students and medical residency position applicants meeting certain criteria.

This bill requires the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) to offer interviews for medical residency positions in specific specialties (like obstetrics, psychiatry, surgery, and primary care) to applicants who are Iowa residents, earned an undergraduate degree from an Iowa college, or graduated from an Iowa medical school. It also mandates that UIHC provide Iowa medical students with the chance to complete clinical "audition" experiences in their desired specialty before applying. UIHC must annually report to the governor and legislature by January 15th, detailing participation in interviews and audition clinicals, acceptance rates, and how many residency spots were filled by eligible applicants. The law aims to prioritize Iowa-trained medical professionals for local residency programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Primary Care

passed · Iowa · House Mar 12, 2025

HF 318: A bill for an act relating to cost-sharing requirements for supplemental and diagnostic breast examinations.

This Iowa bill requires health insurance plans to cover supplemental and diagnostic breast exams with the same out-of-pocket costs (like copays or deductibles) as routine screening mammograms. It directly affects patients needing follow-up breast exams after abnormal screenings, ensuring they won’t face higher costs than for preventive screenings. The rule applies to most health plans sold in Iowa starting January 1, 2026, with a specific exception for high-deductible plans after the deductible is met for preventive care. The policy change aligns cost-sharing for these exams with existing standards for screening mammograms.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Primary Care

died · Iowa · House Mar 31, 2025

HF 754: A bill for an act relating to health care including a funding model for the rural health care system; the elimination of several health care-related award, grant, residency, and fellowship programs; establishment of a health care professional incentive program; Medicaid graduate medical education; the health facilities council; and the Iowa health information network, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

HF 754 replaces several existing Iowa healthcare funding programs with a new "health care professional incentive program" to support medical workers in rural areas. It ends specific initiatives like the rural primary care loan repayment program and mental health professional loan repayment program, redirecting their remaining funds to the new incentive program. The bill also establishes a "hub-and-spoke" funding model for rural healthcare collaboration, requiring state approval from federal authorities. The bill was recommended for passage but was withdrawn on March 31, 2025, and is no longer active.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Hospitals Primary Care

in committee · Iowa · Senate Apr 1, 2025

SF 575: A bill for an act relating to health care including a funding model for the rural health care system; the elimination of several health care-related award, grant, residency, and fellowship programs; establishment of a health care professional incentive program; Medicaid graduate medical education; the health facilities council; and the Iowa health information network, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.

SF 575 replaces several existing healthcare funding programs with a new "health care professional incentive program." It ends the rural Iowa primary care loan repayment, health care professional recruitment, health care award, and mental health professional loan repayment programs, transferring their remaining funds to the new incentive program. The bill also establishes a "hub-and-spoke" funding model to improve rural healthcare delivery through regional provider collaboration. These changes affect healthcare professionals in Iowa, particularly those in rural areas, by redirecting funding toward the new incentive program instead of the eliminated initiatives.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Primary Care

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 301: A bill for an act requiring the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics to give priority to certain Iowa residents in awarding certain residencies and fellowships and to include rural rotations in certain residencies and fellowships.

HF 301 requires the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to prioritize Iowa residents, Iowa college/university graduates, or Iowa medical school graduates for federal medical residency and fellowship positions. It also mandates that primary care and psychiatry trainees complete rural rotations to gain exposure to rural healthcare settings across Iowa. The bill directly affects medical training programs at the University of Iowa, changing how candidates are selected and adding rural experience requirements. These are concrete policy changes to increase Iowa-focused medical training and rural healthcare exposure.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Primary Care

in committee · Iowa · House Apr 3, 2025

HF 379: A bill for an act relating to medical residency and fellowship positions, and certain medical residency and fellowship position applicants.

HF 379 requires the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) to offer interviews for specific medical residency or cardiology fellowship positions to applicants who are Iowa residents, or who earned their undergraduate degree from an Iowa college/university, or their medical degree from an Iowa medical school. It directly affects medical students and applicants seeking positions in specialties like obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, surgery, emergency medicine, neurology, primary care, or cardiology. The bill mandates UIHC to annually report to the governor and legislature by January 15, detailing interview participation, acceptance rates, and the number of qualifying applicants hired. This creates a structured process to prioritize Iowa-connected medical training candidates for certain programs.

Topics ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Primary Care

All healthcare bills

SSB 1060: A bill for an act relating to cost-sharing requirements for supplemental and diagnostic breast examinations.

HF 12: A bill for an act relating to medical residency positions and audition clinicals for medical students and medical residency position applicants meeting certain criteria.

HF 318: A bill for an act relating to cost-sharing requirements for supplemental and diagnostic breast examinations.

HF 301: A bill for an act requiring the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics to give priority to certain Iowa residents in awarding certain residencies and fellowships and to include rural rotations in certain residencies and fellowships.

HF 379: A bill for an act relating to medical residency and fellowship positions, and certain medical residency and fellowship position applicants.