Healthcare (Hospitals)

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 23, 2025

SF 84: A bill for an act relating to noneconomic, punitive, and exemplary damage awards against health care providers and hospitals.

SF 84 limits noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases against health care providers and hospitals to $250,000 per injury or death, with exceptions for substantial bodily impairment, disfigurement, or death (up to $1 million, or $2 million if a hospital is involved). It removes the "loss of pregnancy" exception and repeals the annual 2.1% cap increase. For punitive damages, the bill requires that only 25% of the award goes to the plaintiff in medical cases, with the remainder funding indigent legal aid and insurance programs via a civil reparations trust. This directly affects patients filing medical malpractice claims and health care providers facing lawsuits. The bill does not change how economic damages (like lost wages) are calculated.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareLimits patient compensation in medical malpractice cases by capping noneconomic damages, restricting access to redress for healthcare errors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareDesignates EMS as essential county purpose, enabling bond funding without voter approval to strengthen EMS services and access to emergency healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires suicide risk assessments, 30-day meds, and detailed discharge plans to improve mental health patient continuity of care and safety post-discharge.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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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 & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill explicitly appropriates state funds for veterans, health, and disability services, directly funding public programs under budget management.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareAllocates state funds to health services, behavioral health, medical assistance, and aging/disability programs under HHS appropriations.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransAllocates funds for VA administration, Iowa Veterans Home, and home ownership assistance program for veterans, directly advancing veteran services and benefits.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Hospitals Substance Abuse

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 26, 2026

HF 385: A bill for an act relating to discharge of involuntarily committed persons from a facility or a hospital.

HF 385 requires hospitals and facilities treating involuntarily committed mental health patients in Iowa to implement specific discharge protocols. Before releasing a patient, facilities must refer them to an administrative services organization, assess suicide risk, provide a 15-day supply of prescribed medications (with reimbursement options if not covered), and create a detailed discharge report including care plans, medication lists, and appointment details. This bill directly affects hospitals, patients under involuntary commitment, and administrative services organizations responsible for coordinating post-discharge care. The law also mandates quarterly reports from these organizations to the state department and requires facilities to notify courts of discharges for confirmation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill mandates mental health discharge protocols including suicide risk assessment, medication continuity, and care planning, directly strengthening patient safety and access to follow-up care in mental health services.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 7, 2025

HSB 153: A bill for an act relating to services and support for youth, including treatment, physical assessments, and behavioral health evaluations; exemptions from children’s residential facility certification; the director of juvenile court services and chief juvenile court officers; and suspension of Hawki eligibility for public institution inmates.

HSB 153 updates Iowa's regulations for psychiatric medical institutions serving youth under 21 with serious emotional or substance use disorders. It requires facilities to develop individualized medical care plans based on comprehensive physical and behavioral health evaluations, and mandates team-based care involving qualified mental health professionals. The bill clarifies licensing standards for facilities, specifying that they must be licensed under Chapter 135H to provide services for these conditions, and ensures insurance coverage for medically necessary inpatient care under specific criteria. This directly affects youth receiving psychiatric care, the facilities operating these programs, and their staff who must meet defined professional qualifications.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires individualized mental health treatment for youth in juvenile justice system, promoting rehabilitation over punishment through behavioral health evaluations and team-based care.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates individualized care plans and team-based mental health services for youth, strengthening behavioral health access under juvenile justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Hospitals

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 15, 2025

HF 61: A bill for an act relating to the disclosure of prices charged for certain health services rendered by health care providers and hospitals.

HF 61 requires health care providers to publicly list prices for their 25 most common services (with coding and plain-language descriptions) online, updated annually. Hospitals must list prices for 75 most common inpatient and 75 outpatient services (using Medicare grouping) online, updated quarterly. All disclosed prices must include a disclaimer stating they are estimates, not binding charges, and actual costs may vary. The bill directs Iowa's department to align these requirements with existing federal price transparency rules under the Affordable Care Act.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires healthcare providers to disclose prices for common services, enabling informed patient decisions and improving cost transparency in healthcare access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicare

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 30, 2025

SF 129: A bill for an act relating to the submission and posting of certain hospital policies.

SF 129 requires Iowa hospitals to submit specific policies to the state department by September 1, 2025. Hospitals must submit policies on nondiscrimination, reproductive health care (including abortion, miscarriage care, and family planning), and, if they provide labor services, policies on recommended safety practices for childbirth. The state department must post all submitted policies online with a public comparison tool, and hospitals must also display these policies on their own websites without login requirements. Hospitals must submit updated policies within 30 days if they make changes to any required policy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires hospitals to disclose reproductive health policies and safety practices, promoting transparency and patient rights in healthcare services.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Women's Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 6, 2025

HF 224: A bill for an act eliminating certificate of need requirements and the state health facilities council.

HF 224 eliminates Iowa's certificate of need (CON) requirements and dissolves the state health facilities council. This bill removes the mandatory approval process needed for health care facilities (like hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes) to build new locations or expand services. Under current law, providers had to seek approval from the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) and the council; the bill repeals all related statutes, including sections governing CON applications. This change directly affects health care providers by reducing regulatory barriers for facility development and expansion.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareEliminates certificate of need requirements, reducing regulatory barriers for healthcare facility expansion, which typically improves market competition and patient access to services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2025

HF 256: A bill for an act relating to the statute of repose in medical malpractice claims.

HF 256 modifies Iowa's medical malpractice statute of repose, extending the six-year deadline for filing claims beyond the standard limit when healthcare providers conceal the cause of injury. It directly affects patients who discover their injury was caused by negligence only after providers intentionally hid the malpractice. The bill adds a second exception to the six-year rule (beyond the existing foreign object exception), allowing lawsuits to proceed if a physician, hospital, or their staff concealed the negligent act or omission. This change applies to licensed healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, dentists, and hospitals covered under chapters 147 or 135B of Iowa law. The bill does not alter the standard two-year statute of limitations for when a claimant knew or should have known of the injury.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExtends statute of repose for concealed medical malpractice, protecting patient rights to sue when negligence is hidden by providers.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

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