New Laws Take Effect, LSA Releases Summary of Legislation
Each year, July 1 represents the start of a new budget, or Fiscal Year (FY), for the State of Iowa. Additionally, this date also marks when most legislation passed by the Iowa General Assembly (legislature) and signed into law by the governor take effect. This includes several bills of importance to UnityPoint Health, such as:
- House File 848: Broadband Services, which supports expansion of high-speed internet in underserved areas of the state.
- House File 891: Health and Human Services Appropriations, which includes policies and funding for many Medicaid and other related health care services.
- Senate File 129: Rural Iowa Primary Care Loan Repayment Program and House File 196: Iowa Health Care Professional Recruitment Program, which support the state’s health care workforce.
- Senate File 615: Standings Appropriations, which includes Emergency Medical Services-related legislation
- Senate File 619: Tax Omnibus, which includes policies and funding for mental health programs and services and defines telehealth payment parity for health insurers in Iowa.
The nonpartisan Iowa Legislative Services Agency (LSA) on July 23 released its 2021 Summary of Legislation publication. Published annually, the document provides overviews and detailed information of all legislation enacted by the Iowa General Assembly during the 2021 legislative session.
Governor Reynolds Issues New Proclamation
On July 23, the governor issued an updated COVID-19 Proclamation of Disaster Emergency that discontinues a number of waivers and flexibilities related to health care, among others, and also identifies the expiration of current flexibilities in the proclamation on August 22.
For more information on State of Iowa advocacy, legislative, policy and regulatory issues of impact to UnityPoint Health, please contact Ashley Thompson, director of government & external affairs for UnityPoint Health.