Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SF 508: A bill for an act requiring joint training sessions for nursing home inspectors and nursing facilities related to skilled nursing and therapy services.

This bill requires Iowa's Department of Health to hold semiannual joint training sessions for nursing home inspectors and facilities. The sessions must cover the top three federal citation issues from the previous year and include information about the federal Jimmo v. Sebelius settlement, which clarifies that Medicare coverage for skilled nursing/therapy depends on a patient's need for care - not their potential to improve. The training must involve the state long-term care ombudsman and nursing facility provider associations. This policy change directly affects nursing home inspectors, facilities, and Medicare beneficiaries by aligning state inspections with federal coverage policy.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates training on Jimmo v. Sebelius settlement to ensure Medicare coverage for skilled nursing/therapy based on patient need (not improvement), protecting patient access to care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Long-Term Care Medicare

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 402: A bill for an act relating to the deduction of nursing facility expenses for purposes of the individual income tax, and including retroactive applicability provisions.

This bill allows Iowa individual income taxpayers to deduct expenses paid to licensed nursing facilities (under Chapter 135C) for health-related care and services, provided those costs weren't already deducted for federal tax purposes. It directly affects Iowans paying for nursing care who file state income tax returns. The deduction applies to expenses incurred for health services, not general living costs at the facility. The law includes retroactive application, making it effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllows tax deduction for nursing care expenses, reducing state tax burden for eligible residents, aligning with tax relief for middle-income households.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill allows tax deduction for nursing facility health expenses, reducing out-of-pocket costs for Iowans and improving access to healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Long-Term Care

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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 ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires same cost-sharing for supplemental breast exams as routine screenings, improving patient access to follow-up care without financial barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Primary Care

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 13, 2025

HF 959: A bill for an act relating to ventilator-dependent recipients who receive services under the medical assistance program.

HF 959 requires Iowa's Medicaid program (medical assistance program) to provide ventilator services based on medical need, not age, for people who rely on ventilators. The bill mandates that the Department of Health and Human Services adopt rules ensuring any qualified medical provider can deliver these services to eligible Medicaid enrollees. This directly affects ventilator-dependent Medicaid recipients by removing age-based barriers to care and expanding provider options. The rules aim to standardize access to necessary ventilator services regardless of the recipient's age or current provider network.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves age-based barriers for ventilator-dependent Medicaid recipients, mandates care based on medical need, and expands provider options - directly improving access and protecting patient rights in healthcare coverage.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

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in committee · Iowa · House Mar 3, 2026

HF 327: A bill for an act creating an advanced registered nurse practitioner preceptor tax credit available against the individual income tax, and including applicability provisions.

HF 327 creates a tax credit for Iowa residents who serve as clinical preceptors for advanced registered nurse practitioner students. The credit provides $1,000 per clinical preceptorship (involving at least 100 hours of supervised learning) with a maximum $2,000 annual credit, directly affecting licensed nurse practitioners who mentor students without compensation. To qualify, preceptors must be employed at the clinical site, selected by the nursing program, and have at least one year of mentoring experience. The credit is refundable if it exceeds tax liability, and preceptors must document student details including hours and program information. The bill applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates tax credit reducing taxable income for qualifying preceptors, aligning with tax relief indicators for middle-income professionals in public service roles.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides tax credit to incentivize nursing preceptors, supporting higher education workforce development in healthcare education.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates tax credit to incentivize nurse practitioner mentorship, expanding healthcare workforce training and improving access to care.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Healthcare Workforce

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passed · Iowa · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SF 319: A bill for an act relating to certain cost controls for health care services.

SF 319, titled "The Patient’s Right to Save Act," requires health care providers to disclose the discounted cash price for each specific service they accept as payment. Providers must share this price in advance, including any variations based on timing, location, or patient income, and inform patients that cash payments may not be cheaper than insurance-negotiated rates. The bill mandates annual reviews of these prices and requires clear communication about cash payment options to both insured and uninsured patients before services are provided. It directly affects health care providers who accept cash payments, aiming to increase price transparency for consumers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires price transparency for patients, protecting rights by disclosing cash vs. insurance costs and enabling informed healthcare decisions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Prescription Drugs

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died · Iowa · House Mar 20, 2025

HF 802: A bill for an act relating to the right to try Act.

This bill would expand access to experimental treatments for Iowa patients with terminal or life-threatening illnesses who have exhausted all FDA-approved options. It establishes a framework allowing patients to receive investigational drugs, biological products, or devices that have completed Phase 1 FDA clinical trials but remain unapproved for general use. Eligible patients must obtain physician attestation, written informed consent detailing risks and costs, and documentation of failed standard treatments, with specific requirements for both terminal illness and life-threatening conditions. The bill was introduced in March 2025 but withdrawn before committee action.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands patient access to experimental treatments for terminal illnesses, improving care options per healthcare support indicators like 'improves patient access'.95% confidence

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 3, 2025

SF 391: A bill for an act creating an advanced registered nurse practitioner preceptor tax credit available against the individual income tax, and including applicability provisions.

This bill creates a $1,000 tax credit per clinical preceptorship for Iowa-licensed advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs) who provide uncompensated clinical instruction and supervision to nursing students. To qualify, ARNPs must be employed at the clinical site, have at least one year of preceptor experience, and document student details including hours of supervision and expected graduation year. The credit is refundable and capped at $2,000 annually per preceptor. It applies to tax years beginning January 1, 2026, and requires the Department of Revenue to report annual credit usage to the legislature.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates refundable $1,000 tax credit for ARNPs providing clinical instruction, reducing tax burden and incentivizing healthcare education through fiscal policy.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides tax credit to ARNPs for clinical instruction of nursing students, directly strengthening higher education training and educational access in healthcare education.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates tax credit to incentivize nurse practitioners to train students, expanding healthcare workforce capacity and improving patient access to care.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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died · Iowa · House Mar 21, 2025

HF 556: A bill for an act relating to health insurers’ credentialing process.

HF 556 requires health insurers in Iowa to respond to credentialing requests from physicians, advanced nurse practitioners, and physician assistants within 56 calendar days. If an application is denied, insurers must provide a written explanation. Denied applicants can appeal internally and then to the insurance division, with "network adequacy" specifically listed as a valid appeal reason. The bill was introduced in 2025 but was withdrawn on March 21, 2025, and did not become law.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires insurers to process credentialing faster with explanations and appeals, improving provider access to networks and patient care options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing

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died · Iowa · House Mar 21, 2025

HF 320: A bill for an act relating to the right to try Act.

HF 320 would establish Iowa's "Right to Try" framework, allowing terminally ill or severely debilitating patients to access investigational drugs, biological products, or devices not yet approved by the FDA. It defines eligibility for patients with terminal illness (after exhausting all FDA-approved treatments) or life-threatening conditions requiring personalized genomic-based therapies. The bill requires detailed written informed consent documents outlining treatment options, potential outcomes (including risks of hastened death), cost liabilities (patients bear all expenses unless a manufacturer contract states otherwise), and impacts on hospice care eligibility. It specifically applies to Iowa residents seeking individualized treatments based on their genetic profile, such as gene therapy or personalized vaccines, under physician recommendation.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands patient access to investigational treatments for terminal illnesses, aligning with patient rights and access indicators in healthcare policy.95% confidence

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