Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates a 2.2 billion budget to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Veteran Affairs, an $88.6 million increase from the current fiscal year.

Highlights:

• Appropriates a 2.2 billion budget to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Veteran Affairs, an $88.6 million increase from the current fiscal year (Div. I-XX, Sec. 1-72).

• Requires that $14.6 million go to funding to increase rates for the following, including for (Div. VI, Sec. 9-14):

• Home and Community-Based waiver services; and

• Medicaid programs authorizing in-home and community-based health care services for adults with disabilities and older Iowans not in care facilities.

• Appropriates $3 million towards adjustments for home health providers working with older state residents (Div. II, Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $2.1 million towards raising mental health care Medicaid reimbursement rates (Div. III, Sec. 3).

• Establishes 70 additional waiver slots for Iowans with disabilities seeking long-term services and support (Div. VIII, Sec. 18).

• Amends and incorporates aspects of previous legislation including a provision in the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget that establishes joint training sessions with nursing home staff and inspectors and adds registration requirements for temporary staffing agencies that employ workers at Iowa nursing homes (Div. XIX, Sec. 70).

• Prohibits these provisions from including language establishing a cap on maximum allowable charges for workers with staffing agencies in nursing homes (Div. XX, Sec. 72).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Div. XX, Sec. 72).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates a 2.2 billion budget to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Veteran Affairs, an $88.6 million increase from the current fiscal year.

Highlights:

• Appropriates a 2.2 billion budget to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Veteran Affairs, an $88.6 million increase from the current fiscal year (Div. I-XX, Sec. 1-72).

• Requires that $14.6 million go to funding to increase rates for the following, including for (Div. VI, Sec. 9-14):

• Home and Community-Based waiver services; and

• Medicaid programs authorizing in-home and community-based health care services for adults with disabilities and older Iowans not in care facilities.

• Appropriates $3 million towards adjustments for home health providers working with older state residents (Div. II, Sec. 2).

• Appropriates $2.1 million towards raising mental health care Medicaid reimbursement rates (Div. III, Sec. 3).

• Establishes 70 additional waiver slots for Iowans with disabilities seeking long-term services and support (Div. VIII, Sec. 18).

• Amends and incorporates aspects of previous legislation including a provision in the Health and Human Services (HHS) budget that establishes joint training sessions with nursing home staff and inspectors and adds registration requirements for temporary staffing agencies that employ workers at Iowa nursing homes (Div. XIX, Sec. 70).

• Prohibits these provisions from including language establishing a cap on maximum allowable charges for workers with staffing agencies in nursing homes (Div. XX, Sec. 72).

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Div. XX, Sec. 72).

Full Bill Text