Lobbyist Update April 1, 2024

Bills of Interest

Bills marked with an * have seen movement. These are linked to the Iowa Legislation Bill Book for your convenience.

*HF 2402:  This bill provides for an enhanced rate for psychiatric medical institutions for children that care for children with specialized needs and makes regulatory changes to PMICs including:

  • Ensures that kids are not placed with PMICs that are out-of-state.
  • Requires therapy and Behavioral Health Intervention Services to be a required service
  • Standardize between all MCOs the authorization for PMIC placement
  • Require MCOs to offer support for families.
  • Allows for step-down PMIC placements or supervised apartment living for a child to utilize programming at the PMIC while living independently.

The bill passed the House and the Senate Health Human Services Committee and was placed on the unfinished business calendar. It does not appear likely to be debated. IMHCA is registered in support of the bill.

 

*HF 2488:  This bill creates a pilot program for prior authorization with the MCOs to seek improvements to that process.  The bill passed the House and passed the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, making it eligible for floor debate.  The bill was amended on the Senate floor with cash for care language that does the following:

  • Positive things are that the prior authorizations that are consistently approved will be reviewed and discontinued to decrease the administrative burden.
  • All providers must establish and disclose a discounted cash price for the services they provide.
    • Disclosure must include whether the cash rate varies for any reason (time of service, location, discounts for timely payment, etc.)
    • Hospitals complying with the federal price transparency requirements from CMS are deemed to have complied with these requirements.
    • Discounted prices must be posted to the provider’s website.
    • Prior to provision of care, the provider shall inform the patient about their right to a discounted cash price and that it may count toward their insurance deductible.
    • Provide the patient with an itemized listing of health services provided, statement about availability of discounted cash price, and statement that claim will not be made against insurance if the patient pays cash for the services.

The bill passed the Senate and bounced back to the House.  The House had previously declined to take up the “cash for care” legislation.  IMHCA is registered opposed to the bill based on the discounted cash price requirements.

 

*HF 2673: This bill replaces the existing system with a new behavioral health service system that will encompass 7 regions.  The goal is to:

  • Establish behavioral health districts to assure equitable access to services
  • Designate administrative service organizations (ASOs) to oversee
  • Develop a State Behavioral Health Service System plan

The bill passed the House Appropriations committee.  Amendments were added (some of which are not included in the Senate bill.  Notable changes include:

  • Directing the new system to focus on at-risk populations and core services
  • Clarified that the administrative service organizations (ASOs) cannot be a for-profit entity
  • Added representation to the advisory councils overseeing the new regions to strengthen a pediatric focus and to add law enforcement
  • Added language to redistribute existing psychiatric residency programs funded by state dollars to include Unity Point and Broadlawns
  • Added PMIC language that requires the department to review and update PMIC rules including allowing licensed professionals to based on competency rather than license, to order seclusion and restraint practices (NOTE: IMHCA, along with other mental health professionals, worked to add language that requires rulemaking to define competencies)

The last two provisions were bills rejected by the Senate that the House attached to the bill.  The bill was approved by the House Appropriations Committee.  IMHCA is registered undecided on the bill.

 

*SF 2354:  This bill replaces the existing system with a new behavioral health service system that will encompass 7 regions.  The goal is to:

  • Establish behavioral health districts to assure equitable access to services
  • Designate administrative service organizations (ASOs) to oversee
  • Develop a State Behavioral Health Service System plan

The bill passed the House Appropriations committee.  Amendments were added (some of which are not included in the Senate bill.  Notable changes include:

  • Directing the new system to focus on at-risk populations and core services
  • Clarified that the administrative service organizations (ASOs) cannot be a for-profit entity
  • Added representation to the advisory councils overseeing the new regions to strengthen a pediatric focus and to add law enforcement

The bill passed the Senate Appropriations Committee and is eligible for floor debate.  IMHCA is registered undecided on the bill.

 

*HF 2512: This bill authorizes Iowa’s entry into the social work compact.  The bill passed the House and was passed by the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee and was placed on the Senate unfinished business calendar.  IMHCA is registered in support.

 

*HF 2515:  This bill does two things.  First, it aligns the requirements for licensure by endorsement or MHCs and MFTs with the current process used by social workers.  The board of behavioral science is moving a rule through the process that also accomplishes this.   Second, the bill prohibits the boards of social work and behavioral science from requiring that the supervised training requirements include video or recorded sessions with clients.  The bill passed the House and was passed by the Senate State Government Committee and was placed on the Senate unfinished business calendar.  IMHCA is registered in support.

 

Items that have not moved this week:

HF 2583/SF 2251:  The governor has proposed extending Medicaid coverage for post-partum care for 12 months for women making less than $42,000.  The Senate passed SF 2251, sending it to the House where it is “paired” with HF 2583 and eligible for the debate calendar.  IMHCA is registered in support of both bills. The bill was placed on the unfinished business calendar in the House which keeps it eligible for floor debate.

 

HF 2574: This bill eliminates boards and commissions that are inactive.  The bill doesn’t combine any existing boards.  The bill passed House State Government and is eligible for the debate calendar.  IMHCA is registered in support. The bill was placed on the unfinished business calendar in the House which keeps it eligible for floor debate.

 

SF 2385:  This bill encompasses the governor’s recommendations on boards and commissions.  It combines the boards of psychology, social work and behavioral science into one board.   The bill passed State Government and is eligible for the debate calendar.  IMHCA is registered opposed.  The bill was placed on the unfinished business calendar in the Senate which keeps it eligible for floor debate.

 

Bills that Died

HSB 500:  This bill extends Medicaid coverage for post-partum care to 12 months.

 

HSB 511/SSB 3011: These bills would allow the release of psychological test materials to the opposing counsel if the litigation included a question of the individual’s cognitive ability.

 

HSB 690:  Added psychiatrists as an eligible profession for the mental health loan repayment program

 

HF 2073/SSB 3092: These bills allow a school district to employ a chaplain to provide services to students.

 

HF 2082:  This bill removes gender identity as a protected class under Iowa’s civils rights code and creates gender dysphoria as a disability.

 

HF 2210:  This bill prohibits hospitals and licensing boards from asking about an applicant’s mental health or substance abuse conditions.

 

HF 2233: This bill prohibits a licensing board from imposing CEU requirements if they are not directly related to the profession.

 

HF 2268:  This bill places time limits on review of Medicaid claims to no more than 24 months.

 

HF 2271: This bill requires health facilities to disclose electronic health records to parents unless otherwise protected by law.

 

HF 2389:  This bill creates a definition in code of man, woman and family.

 

HF 2486:  This bill allows a licensed individual to carryforward any excess CEU credits into the next renewal cycle not to exceed 50%.

 

SF 297:  This bill protects a licensed health care provider who objects to requirements by an employer who imposes restrictions on their practice.

 

SF 2107:  This bill requires 3 graduate credit hours in courses on domestic violence as well as at least two hours of continuing education credits for licensure of psychologists, social workers, MHCs and MFTs.

 

SF 2286:   This bill protects a licensed health care provider who objects to requirements by an employer who imposes restrictions on their practice.