Under the Golden Dome
The 2024 legislative concluded early Saturday morning (4:30 a.m.), three days past the scheduled deadline. The early part of the legislative session was dominated by the governor’s proposal to make changes to the state’s area education agency system. The latter part of the session was dominated by budget and tax issues. In between, the legislature worked on major proposals to redesign the behavioral health system and reduce the number of boards and commissions.
IMHCA, along with the other professions represented by the merged boards, worked together to successfully add language that establishes advisory committees comprised representing each of the boards. These committees will be responsible for reviewing licensure cases and implementation of state rules and laws and will make recommendations to the full board. While we would have preferred to keep the boards separate, when the writing was on the wall, we worked to preserve their ability to oversee their own licensees. Sometimes a win is making something bad less bad.
One very good thing is continued investment in raising reimbursement rates for mental health professionals. The budget provides $2.1 million in new money to accomplish this. That makes two years in a row!
The bills noted below have not yet received the governor’s signature. She has 30 days from the end of the legislative session to make that decision. We do not anticipate that she will veto any of them but watch for updates as she does take action on the IMHCA website.
Bills that Passed
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:
The bill is before the governor for her consideration. IMHCA registered in support of the bill.
HF 2512: This bill authorizes Iowa’s entry into the social work compact. The bill is before the governor for her consideration. IMHCA registered in support of the bill.
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. Governor Reynolds signed the bill into law on April 19. IMHCA registered in support of the bill.
HF 2673: This bill replaces the existing system with a new behavioral health service system that will encompass 7 regions. The goal is to:
The bill is before the governor for her consideration. IMHCA registered undecided on the bill.
HF 2698: The FY 2025 health and human services budget bill. The bill provides an increase of $369,000 enhanced reimbursement for high acuity children in psychiatric medical institutions (if HF 2402 is enacted). It also provides an additional $2.1 million to increase reimbursement rates for mental health providers. The bill is before the governor for her consideration. IMHCA registered undecided on the bill.
SF 2251: The governor has proposed extending Medicaid coverage for post-partum care for 12 months for women making less than $42,000. The bill is before the governor for her consideration. IMHCA registered in support of the bill.
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. Language was added to create advisory committees for each of the old boards who will make recommendations to the full board on licensure cases and implementation of rules and statutes. In addition, a representative of the behavior analysts was added to the board. The bill is before the governor for her consideration. IMHCA registered opposed to the bill but was appreciative of the changes made to the consolidation of the three boards.
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%.
HF 2488: This bill creates a pilot program for prior authorization with the MCOs to seek improvements to that process and included language requiring providers to offer discounted cash pricing.
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.