Healthcare

in committee · Iowa · House Mar 9, 2026

HSB 759: A bill for an act establishing a pilot program in the department of health and human services to refurbish and recondition durable medical equipment purchased under the medical assistance program.

This bill creates a pilot program in Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to collect, refurbish, and redistribute durable medical equipment purchased through the state's medical assistance program. The program would partner with a national nonprofit organization to track equipment given to recipients, notify them when the item is no longer needed due to death or health changes, and arrange for pickup and reconditioning. Refurbished equipment would be placed in the nonprofit's inventory and made available at no cost to other eligible recipients who need the items. The department must submit annual reports to the General Assembly detailing the program's progress and costs, and the pilot program is set to end on July 1, 2030.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes pilot program to refurbish and redistribute durable medical equipment, improving access to medical supplies for medical assistance recipients.90% confidence

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passed · Iowa · House Apr 7, 2026

HF 2743: A bill for an act creating the Iowa rural health transformation fund and making appropriations.

This bill establishes the Iowa Rural Health Transformation Fund within the Department of Health and Human Services to manage federal funding received from the federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The fund will be used exclusively for purposes authorized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, with interest and earnings remaining in the fund rather than reverting to the general state budget. The Department of Health and Human Services must report quarterly spending details to the General Assembly, including specific city locations where funds are used, and share all federal program reports with the legislature. The fund and its associated provisions will automatically expire on October 1, 2032.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates a new fund to manage federal healthcare funding for rural areas, increasing resources for essential public services and expanding healthcare access in underserved regions.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill creates a fund to manage federal healthcare funding for rural areas, expanding access and strengthening rural health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Medicaid Medicare

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passed · Iowa · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SF 2319: A bill for an act relating to the inclusion of the your life Iowa program on public school internet sites.

This bill requires Iowa public schools serving students in grades 7-12 to list the "Your Life Iowa" suicide prevention program's contact information (phone, text numbers, and website) as a resource on their school websites. It also mandates that schools issuing student ID cards to grades 7-12 must include this information on the cards, with schools serving grades 5-6 allowed to optionally include it. The law directly affects students in these grade levels by making suicide prevention resources more accessible through school-issued materials and online platforms. It does not change existing suicide prevention services but ensures schools proactively share this specific resource.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates schools to include suicide prevention resources on websites/ID cards, enhancing student access to mental health support within educational environment.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates inclusion of suicide prevention program resources on school websites/ID cards, directly expanding student access to mental health services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

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in committee · Iowa · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SF 2455: A bill for an act relating to insurance coverage for emergency services, reimbursements for out-of-network providers, and complicating factors.

This bill requires health insurance plans to cover emergency services provided by out-of-network doctors or hospitals, ensuring patients aren't charged more than their standard cost-sharing. Out-of-network providers must be reimbursed at the greater of 150% of Medicare rates or the median payment for similar services by in-network providers, with no additional billing allowed beyond patient cost-sharing. It introduces a new process for providers to request extra reimbursement (25% more) for "complicating factors" (like severe conditions requiring exceptional effort), supported by medical documentation. Disputes over these additional claims are resolved through binding arbitration managed by the insurance commissioner, with strict timelines for claims submission and decisions.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates out-of-network emergency coverage with fair reimbursement, protecting patients from surprise billing and expanding access - directly strengthens insurance coverage and patient rights in healthcare.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Insurance Medicare

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 17, 2026

HF 2287: A bill for an act relating to liability for injuries caused by vaccines.

HF 2287 requires vaccine manufacturers to waive federal immunity for injuries caused by vaccine design defects before distributing, selling, or administering vaccines in Iowa. This directly affects vaccine manufacturers operating in the state, as they must affirmatively give up their protection under the federal National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (42 U.S.C. §300aa-1 et seq.) for design defect claims. The bill's key mechanism is that distributing a vaccine in Iowa automatically deems the manufacturer to have waived this immunity for design defect injuries. It does not impact the federal vaccine injury compensation program or immunity for other types of vaccine injuries. The bill is currently under review by the Judiciary Subcommittee.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareBill requires manufacturers to waive immunity for vaccine design defects, bypassing the federal no-fault compensation system and creating a more difficult legal path for patients, reducing patient benefits.80% confidence

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passed · Iowa · House Mar 27, 2026

HF 2292: A bill for an act directing the department of health and human services to increase the number of inpatient psychiatric beds at each state mental health institute.

HF 2292 mandates Iowa's Department of Health and Human Services to double the number of inpatient psychiatric beds at each state mental health institute by 2028. The bill requires applying for a federal Medicaid waiver by July 2027 to fund this expansion, using the 2025 bed count as the baseline. It directly affects homeless individuals with mental health conditions or substance use disorders, as cited in the bill's findings linking untreated mental health to public safety concerns. The key mechanism is the Medicaid waiver process, which would allow state-funded bed increases beyond current federal restrictions. This policy change aims to expand institutional treatment capacity without specifying outcomes or advocating for particular approaches.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates doubling psychiatric beds, requires Medicaid waiver funding, directly expands mental health services for vulnerable populations per bill's findings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 16, 2026

HF 2332: A bill for an act relating to elective abortion and feticide, providing penalties, and including effective date provisions.

This Iowa bill (HF 2332) prohibits most elective abortions after the second trimester and creates criminal penalties for "feticide" (intentionally causing fetal death during pregnancy). It defines "elective abortion" narrowly - excluding miscarriage treatment, medical emergencies, and procedures to save the mother's life - and bans knowingly performing or aiding such procedures. Feticide is classified as a felony (class C or D depending on intent), while unintentional fetal death during non-forcible crimes is a lesser offense. The law directly affects pregnant individuals seeking later-term abortions, healthcare providers, and anyone assisting in such procedures, with exceptions only for medical emergencies or preserving maternal life.

Topics ✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts abortion access after second trimester, banning non-emergency procedures under 'feticide' penalties, directly limiting a healthcare service under medical care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Women's Health

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in committee · Iowa · House Feb 10, 2026

HF 2376: A bill for an act relating to matters under the purview of the department of health and human services, including the Iowa return to community program and reimbursement rates, and making appropriations.

HF 2376 appropriates $2 million from the general fund for the fiscal year 2026-2027 to expand Iowa's Return to Community program, which helps individuals transition from institutional care to community living. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to report on the program's outcomes by December 31, 2027. The bill also increases reimbursement rates by 5% for adult day care services under home and community-based services waivers, while maintaining other existing reimbursement rates for medical assistance and social services. This directly affects providers of community-based care and participants in the Return to Community program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $2M from general fund for community program expansion and increases reimbursement rates by 5% for public health services, directly funding essential programs.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds $2M expansion of community care program and increases adult day care reimbursement rates, directly advancing access to home-based healthcare services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget

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died · Iowa · House Mar 10, 2026

HF 2570: A bill for an act relating to the authority of an attorney in fact under a durable power of attorney for health care.

This Iowa bill (HF 2570) clarifies the authority of an "attorney in fact" (someone appointed to make health care decisions under a durable power of attorney). It requires the attorney in fact to follow the principal's (patient's) expressed wishes as written in the power of attorney document or a separate life-sustaining procedures declaration. The bill specifically states that such declarations cannot be interpreted to block withdrawal of hydration or nutrition when medically necessary (e.g., via IV or feeding tube), and the attorney’s authority cannot be limited by the principal’s verbal wishes shared with others or in unrelated documents unless the power of attorney document explicitly lists those limitations. It directly affects patients using durable powers of attorney and their appointed health care decision-makers.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareClarifies patient autonomy in healthcare decisions, ensuring attorney in fact follows expressed wishes per durable power of attorney, protecting patient rights.90% confidence

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introduced · Iowa · House Feb 19, 2026

HF 2603: A bill for an act relating to licensure as a respiratory care practitioner.

HF 2603 updates Iowa's licensure rules for respiratory care practitioners. Starting January 1, 2027, new applicants must hold a "registered respiratory therapist" credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (or its successor) in addition to passing an exam and meeting other board requirements. Out-of-state license holders must also obtain this credential or pass a board-approved exam. Current licensees (held before 2027) are exempt unless their license lapsed over three months prior to renewal. The bill also requires the licensing board to work with educational institutions to create pathways for certified therapists to earn the new credential and develop continuing education programs.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequiring national credentialing for respiratory therapists ensures qualified practitioners, strengthening healthcare standards and professional oversight in respiratory care services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Medical Licensing

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