SF 272 requires public employers in Iowa to provide cancer screening exams for full-time firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical services (EMS) providers within three years of hire and every three years thereafter. The state will reimburse political subdivisions up to $1,250 per employee per three-year period for these screenings, with no out-of-pocket costs for eligible workers. The bill also expands the definition of "cancer" in retirement systems to include all cancer diagnoses, ensuring broader eligibility for accidental disability and death benefits under the Public Safety Peace Officers' Retirement System (PORS) and Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System (411 System). It appropriates $1 million from the state general fund for FY 2025-2026 to cover these reimbursement costs.
HF 686 requires Iowa employers to provide employees with at least 10 days of paid medical leave each year for health conditions affecting the employee, their child, parent, or spouse. Leave pay must equal the employee's regular earnings, calculated based on their typical pay period, with specific rules for variable income. Employers may request advance notice for foreseeable leave and written documentation from a healthcare provider within one week of returning from leave, consistent with privacy laws. The bill is enforced by Iowa's Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing under existing labor laws.
This bill increases Iowa's personal needs allowance for residents in specific long-term care facilities from $50 to $65 per month. It directly affects individuals living in nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for people with intellectual/mental disabilities, or psychiatric medical institutions for children. The allowance helps cover personal expenses not covered by medical assistance, with the state providing supplements to residents earning under $65 monthly. Starting July 1, 2026, the allowance will automatically adjust annually based on the federal consumer price index to keep pace with inflation.
HF 725 establishes a program to provide grants for EMT training to small rural police departments (serving ≤10,000 people) and volunteer fire departments (serving ≤10,000 people) in Iowa. It creates a state fund with up to $250,000 annually from 2025-2029 to cover training costs like tuition, equipment, and certification fees, requiring applicants to demonstrate need and commit to deploying trained personnel. Grantees must submit annual reports on personnel trained, response time improvements, and implementation challenges. The program, administered by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, ends July 1, 2029.
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This bill restricts pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from requiring patients to use mail-order pharmacies exclusively (except for specialty drugs). It mandates that PBMs pass all prescription drug rebates directly to insurers or employers to lower premiums, and requires PBMs to pay pharmacies a $3 dispensing fee for small stores (5 or fewer locations) or pharmacies in rural "pharmacy deserts" (areas more than 30 miles from the nearest pharmacy). The bill also bans "spread pricing" in new contracts (effective 2026), where PBMs charge insurers more than they pay pharmacies for the same drug. These provisions directly affect PBMs, pharmacies, insurers, and patients seeking prescription drugs.
HF 813 limits how much Iowa nursing facilities can increase daily private pay rates for residents. It prohibits rate hikes exceeding the annual Consumer Price Index change, prevents increases within 12 months of the last change, and restricts more than one increase per year. Facilities failing to comply lose eligibility for license renewal. The bill requires nursing facilities to annually report their private pay rates to the state department in a non-identifying format, effective for rates set or renewed after the law takes effect.
SF 329 allows Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to delegate certain custodial responsibilities to licensed foster care providers when a court transfers legal custody of a child to HHS. Specifically, it permits HHS to delegate the authority to consent to emergency medical care, routine medical care (including sports physicals, blood tests, and necessary antibiotics), and participation in individualized education programs for the child. This delegation applies only when parents or guardians retain residual rights, and HHS must notify foster care providers about which decisions they can make on the child's behalf. The bill directly affects children in foster care under HHS custody and the licensed foster care providers caring for them. It clarifies that HHS can make these decisions without overriding parents' ongoing rights.
HF 543 requires Iowa public school districts to provide free sanitary napkins and tampons in at least half of restrooms serving students in grades 6-12, with products regularly refilled. It directly affects school districts and students in those grades by ensuring access to essential hygiene products without cost. The bill appropriates state funds to reimburse districts for compliance costs from 2025 through 2028, with districts submitting documented expenses for reimbursement. After June 2028, school foundation aid will fund ongoing compliance, ending the state appropriation.
SF 48 requires hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and pregnancy resource centers in Iowa to report specific serious medical incidents to the state Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing within 15 working days. Facilities must report events like wrong-site surgery, medication errors, patient disappearances, falls, device failures, or serious injuries from contaminated products. The law specifies 15 distinct incident types that qualify as "serious reportable events," excluding certain situations like emergencies requiring immediate action. Reports must not include identifying details about patients, staff, or healthcare professionals. Failure to report could result in penalties established under the bill.
SF 527 is a bill that sets staffing requirements for nursing facilities in Iowa. It mandates a minimum of 0.55 hours per resident per day for registered nurses and 2.45 hours per resident per day for nurse aides, requires a registered nurse to be on-site 24/7, and specifies that facilities must verify nurse aides' qualifications through competency evaluations and state registries. The bill also establishes a process for facilities to request waivers if they cannot meet staffing levels due to recruitment challenges, while ensuring resident safety through annual department reviews and resident notification. These requirements directly affect all nursing facilities operating in Iowa.
