Healthcare (Medicaid)

died · Iowa · House Apr 28, 2025

HF 941: A bill for an act relating to the expansion of the ground emergency medical transportation program.

This bill, HF 941, expands the ground emergency medical transportation (GEMT) program by requiring the Department of Health and Human Services to hire dedicated staff. These staff will assist eligible ground emergency medical transportation providers with technical support, actuary services, and Medicaid enrollment to help them join the program. The department is directed to develop the program to ensure access to emergency medical services throughout the state. Additionally, the bill mandates an annual report to the general assembly detailing enrollment numbers, assistance provided, and barriers to participation in the GEMT program.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands GEMT program, requires staff to assist providers with Medicaid enrollment and technical support, ensuring statewide access to emergency medical services. This advances healthcare access and coverage.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 11, 2025

SF 218: A bill for an act relating to modernization of nutrition programs in the state.

This bill directs Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to modernize state nutrition programs by creating a single application for both WIC (for women, infants, and children) and SNAP (food assistance). Key provisions include enabling remote certification via phone/video calls, streamlining eligibility for applicants enrolled in SNAP or Medicaid, and implementing features like automatic benefit loading to WIC cards and online shopping. The department must seek federal approval for these changes before implementation and submit a report to the legislature within 30 days after six months of the pilot program. The bill affects low-income Iowans who rely on WIC and SNAP benefits, aiming to simplify access and reduce administrative steps.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareModernizes nutrition programs (WIC/SNAP) to streamline eligibility and improve access to health-related benefits, aligning with healthcare access goals.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SSB 1174: A bill for an act relating to the establishment of the work without worry program under the medical assistance program for employed individuals with disabilities, and including effective date provisions.

SSB 1174 establishes Iowa's "Work Without Worry" program, allowing employed individuals with disabilities to keep Medicaid coverage while working without losing benefits due to income. It removes standard income and resource limits for eligibility, instead charging a premium of 6% of an individual's "countable income" (basic needs income). The program automatically enrolls people receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), covers traditional Medicaid services plus additional community-based supports, and includes a 6-month grace period for temporary job loss. It directly affects Iowans aged 18-65 with disabilities who work and earn taxable income, ensuring continuous health coverage without penalty for employment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid access for employed disabled individuals by removing income limits and preventing benefit loss, ensuring continued healthcare coverage while working.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves Medicaid income barriers for employed disabled workers, enabling continued employment without loss of health coverage, directly advancing labor & employment rights.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 14, 2025

HF 905: A bill for an act relating to the establishment of the work without worry program under the medical assistance program for employed individuals with disabilities, and including effective date provisions.

HF 905 establishes Iowa's "Work Without Worry" program, providing Medicaid coverage to employed individuals with disabilities aged 18-64 who meet specific criteria. The program removes standard income and asset limits by requiring a monthly premium of 6% of countable income (rounded down to the nearest dollar), with automatic enrollment for Supplemental Security Income recipients. It includes a six-month grace period for temporary job loss or health crises, maintaining coverage during this time with ongoing premium payments. Administered by Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services, the program requires federal approval to implement under Medicaid rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid coverage to employed disabled adults (18-64) by removing income/asset limits, adding premium (6% income), and including grace period for job loss/health crises.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Jan 27, 2025

HF 121: A bill for an act relating to student resources for the submission of applications for home and community-based services waivers by the parents or guardians of students enrolled in school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, charter schools, or innovation zone schools.

HF 121 requires Iowa school districts, nonpublic schools, charter schools, innovation zone schools, and area education agencies to develop and distribute resources enabling school staff to provide testing services. These resources help parents or guardians of enrolled students submit applications for home and community-based services waivers through the Department of Health and Human Services. The waivers are Medicaid programs that allow individuals to receive necessary care at home or in community settings instead of in institutional facilities. The bill specifically authorizes area education agencies to offer these testing services to eligible schools upon request.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFacilitates Medicaid waiver applications for home/community care, improving access to healthcare services through school-based resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2025

HF 424: A bill for an act relating to the establishment of the work without worry program under the medical assistance program for employed individuals with disabilities, and including effective date provisions.

HF 424 establishes Iowa's "Work Without Worry" program, providing health coverage through the state's medical assistance program for employed individuals with disabilities aged 18-64 who meet income requirements. It removes typical Medicaid barriers by allowing participants to keep coverage while working, with premiums calculated as 6% of "countable income" (income used for basic needs), and automatically enrolling Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. The program includes a 6-month grace period for temporary job loss or health issues without requiring premium payments during that time, and participants retain access to all standard Medicaid services plus additional community-based support. This directly affects Iowans with disabilities who work but would otherwise lose health coverage due to income limits under current Medicaid rules.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates new healthcare coverage program for employed disabled individuals, removing work-based Medicaid barriers and expanding access without premium hikes for eligible participants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 10, 2025

HSB 241: A bill for an act relating to the establishment of the work without worry program under the medical assistance program for employed individuals with disabilities, and including effective date provisions.

This bill establishes Iowa's "Work Without Worry Program," providing Medicaid health coverage to employed individuals with disabilities aged 18-65 who meet income and disability criteria. It removes typical Medicaid income and resource limits by using federal Medicaid rules, allowing participants to keep jobs without losing health coverage - automatically enrolling Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients and excluding employment income from eligibility calculations. Participants pay a monthly premium of 6% of their verified "countable income" (excluding certain household income and federal benefits), with a six-month grace period for temporary job loss or health issues. The program coordinates with employer health coverage to avoid duplicate payments and ensures access to all traditional Medicaid services plus community-based long-term supports.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands Medicaid coverage for employed disabled individuals by removing income limits and automatically enrolling SSI recipients, directly increasing healthcare access under public health programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentRemoves Medicaid income barriers for employed disabled workers, enabling continued employment without loss of health coverage - directly advancing labor/employment rights for this group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 28, 2025

HF 660: A bill for an act relating to coverage of treatment for congenital dental abnormalities under the Medicaid program.

HF 660 requires Iowa's Medicaid program to cover dental treatment for children with specific genetic dental conditions under the "Dental Wellness Plan Kids." It directly affects Medicaid-eligible children in Iowa diagnosed with conditions like cleft lip/palate, missing teeth (anodontia/hypodontia), enamel defects (amelogenesis imperfecta), or other genetic mouth abnormalities causing oral health issues. The bill defines covered "congenital dental abnormalities" to include conditions such as supernumerary teeth, misaligned bites (malocclusion), and gum diseases originating from genetic factors. The Department of Health and Human Services must implement this coverage requirement within the existing Medicaid dental plan.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands Medicaid dental coverage for genetic conditions, increasing access to treatment for vulnerable children under public health program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 10, 2025

SF 528: A bill for an act relating to the personal needs allowance for residents of certain facilities under the Medicaid program, and providing an appropriation.

This bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance for Medicaid residents in specific facilities from $50 to $85. It directly affects residents of nursing facilities, intermediate care facilities for intellectual disabilities or mental illness, and children's psychiatric medical institutions. The bill requires the state to supplement residents with income below $85 per month to reach the full $85 allowance, using annual appropriations from the general fund to the Department of Health and Human Services. This change provides a concrete policy adjustment to support residents' personal expenses within the Medicaid program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases Medicaid personal needs allowance funding via general fund appropriations, directly supporting public assistance programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareIncreases Medicaid personal needs allowance from $50 to $85, funding through state appropriations to enhance resident support in healthcare facilities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations State Budget Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 12, 2025

HSB 249: A bill for an act relating to the expansion of the ground emergency medical transportation program.

This bill requires Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to hire dedicated staff specifically to expand enrollment in the state's ground emergency medical transportation program (which covers ambulance services). The staff will provide technical help, Medicaid enrollment support, and actuary guidance to eligible ambulance providers seeking to join the program. The department must also submit annual reports to the legislature by December 15, tracking enrollment numbers, assistance provided, and barriers to participation. The goal is to improve statewide access to emergency medical transportation services.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands access to emergency ambulance services by requiring dedicated staff for enrollment support and Medicaid assistance, directly improving healthcare access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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