Legislative update WEEK 2

State House News Week 2

HF 89: Telehealth Parity

    House file 89 passed unanimously through house committee on 1/21/21. 

1) It requires that insurance companies shall pay the same as in office rates. 

2) It amends the definition of telehealth to include interactive real-time audio, visual or electronic media regardless of location of professional or covered person. 

3) It prohibits a carrier from requiring an additional professional in the same room as the covered person.

4) Effective upon enactment and retroactive to Jan 1, 2021.

Bill details are here:

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/89/HF89.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2msbA0ZMamu9IJ-am40pceC7mTMaZ0FSQT0HJ4do0vB8qT4IB4LVhJdrU

(This bill applies to insurance companies/plans that Iowa has control over- some are covered by a federal law and are not included in this legislation.)

New Bills this week:

We would love your feedback on these four bills

HF 107: 

• This bill directs the board of behavioral science to amend their roles to remove any 
• requirements for in-person supervision.
• https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF107&ga=89 

HF 108:

• Requests the state to submit a Medicaid waiver to support a full continuum of substance abuse treatment
• https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF108&ga=89 

HF 132:

• This bill prohibits the licensing board from limiting online continuing education credits
• https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF132&ga=89 

HF 133:

• This bill extends the deadlines for continuing education for COIVD-19
• https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ba=HF133&ga=89