Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires Iowa HHS to draw down more than $150 million in federal funds to create 115 new medical residency slots at state teaching hospitals

Highlights:

• Requires that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a request for a health care hub-and-spoke partnership funding model to improve Iowa's rural health system (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the department coordinate with the College Student Aid Commission in the administration of the health professional incentive program (Sec. 3).

• Repeals the PRIMECARRE Program (Sec. 4-6).

• Specifies that the department shall continue to issue loan repayments for individuals participating in an applicable loan repayment program before December 31, 2025 (Sec. 6).

• Repeals health care-related loan repayment and financial award programs (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that the department shall continue to issue loan repayments for students participating in an applicable loan repayment program before June 30, 2025 (Sec. 8).

• Specifies that unspent funds from specific accounts relating to repealed programs shall be allocated to the health care professional incentive program fund (Sec. 6-10).

• Establishes the health care professional incentive program and authorizes the department and commission to jointly determine the number of awards available beginning July 1, 2025 (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits the program health care professionals already participating in a loan repayment program (Sec. 11).

• Requires the commission to prioritize applicants who are employed full-time (Sec. 11).

• Specifies certain terms and conditions that are to be included in a program agreement (Sec. 11).

• Establishes the following payment schedule for awardees who are employed full-time (Sec. 11):

• 20% of the award is issued upon the completion of the awardee’s first year of employment obligation;

• 15% of the award is issued upon the completion of the awardee’s second, third, and fourth years of employment obligation; and

• 35% of the award is issued upon the completion of the awardee’s fifth year of employment obligation.

• Establishes that the aggregate award shall be prorated by the commission for awardees who are employed part-time (Sec. 11).

• Requires that the commission and department establish a list of eligible health care professions and the aggregate award amount for each eligible health care profession every 5 years (Sec. 11).

• Specifies that an individual whose profession is removed from the list after the individual has already agreed shall remain eligible (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits the aggregate award amount from exceeding $200 thousand (Sec. 11).

• Establishes a health care professional incentive program fund and specifies relevant technical requirements (Sec. 11).

• Requires that the department submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a request for a Medicaid supplemental enhanced payment for the purposes of maximizing federal funding opportunities for graduate medical education and increasing the number of medical residencies in the state (Sec. 13).

• Repeals the medical residency training state matching grants program (Sec. 17).

• Requires that the department provide matching state funding to awardees who received medical residency training state matching grants and additional relevant awards before June 30, 2025, until all awardees have completed their programs (Sec. 18).

• Specifies that unspent funds from specific accounts relating to repealed programs shall be allocated to the department to fund Medicaid graduate medical education efforts (Sec. 18).

• Repeals state-funded psychiatry residency and fellowship positions at the University of Iowa (Sec. 22).

• Authorizes the Iowa Board of Regents to distribute funds for state-funded psychiatry residency and fellowship positions until all awardees have left their positions (Sec. 23).

• Specifies that unspent funds from specific accounts relating to repealed positions shall be allocated to the department to fund Medicaid graduate medical education efforts (Sec. 24).

• Repeals the Iowa Health Facilities Council, transfers relevant functions to the department, and amends chapter references accordingly (Sec. 27-62).

• Requires that the department compile all relevant financial and utilization data necessary to properly monitor hospital and health care facility charges and costs and specifies certain information which is to be collected under this effort (Sec. 63).

• Establishes a civil penalty not to exceed $500 per offense for hospitals and health care facilities that fail to provide the department with the required financial reports (Sec. 64).

• Establishes the Director of Health and Human Services and the Exchange Advisory Committee and repeals the Board of Directors (Sec. 75-79).

• Requires that the department conduct a competitive process to select a designated statewide Iowa health information network administrator every 8 years (Sec. 77).

• Specifies functions of the advisory committee (Sec. 79).

• Specifies that certain aforementioned provisions shall take effect immediately and conditionally upon the federal approval of the aforementioned Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services request (Sec. 2-12).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires Iowa HHS to draw down more than $150 million in federal funds to create 115 new medical residency slots at state teaching hospitals

Highlights:

• Requires that the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a request for a health care hub-and-spoke partnership funding model to improve Iowa's rural health system (Sec. 1).

• Requires that the department coordinate with the College Student Aid Commission in the administration of the health professional incentive program (Sec. 3).

• Repeals the PRIMECARRE Program (Sec. 4-6).

• Specifies that the department shall continue to issue loan repayments for individuals participating in an applicable loan repayment program before December 31, 2025 (Sec. 6).

• Repeals health care-related loan repayment and financial award programs (Sec. 7).

• Specifies that the department shall continue to issue loan repayments for students participating in an applicable loan repayment program before June 30, 2025 (Sec. 8).

• Specifies that unspent funds from specific accounts relating to repealed programs shall be allocated to the health care professional incentive program fund (Sec. 6-10).

• Establishes the health care professional incentive program and authorizes the department and commission to jointly determine the number of awards available beginning July 1, 2025 (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits the program health care professionals already participating in a loan repayment program (Sec. 11).

• Requires the commission to prioritize applicants who are employed full-time (Sec. 11).

• Specifies certain terms and conditions that are to be included in a program agreement (Sec. 11).

• Establishes the following payment schedule for awardees who are employed full-time (Sec. 11):

• 20% of the award is issued upon the completion of the awardee’s first year of employment obligation;

• 15% of the award is issued upon the completion of the awardee’s second, third, and fourth years of employment obligation; and

• 35% of the award is issued upon the completion of the awardee’s fifth year of employment obligation.

• Establishes that the aggregate award shall be prorated by the commission for awardees who are employed part-time (Sec. 11).

• Requires that the commission and department establish a list of eligible health care professions and the aggregate award amount for each eligible health care profession every 5 years (Sec. 11).

• Specifies that an individual whose profession is removed from the list after the individual has already agreed shall remain eligible (Sec. 11).

• Prohibits the aggregate award amount from exceeding $200 thousand (Sec. 11).

• Establishes a health care professional incentive program fund and specifies relevant technical requirements (Sec. 11).

• Requires that the department submit to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services a request for a Medicaid supplemental enhanced payment for the purposes of maximizing federal funding opportunities for graduate medical education and increasing the number of medical residencies in the state (Sec. 13).

• Repeals the medical residency training state matching grants program (Sec. 17).

• Requires that the department provide matching state funding to awardees who received medical residency training state matching grants and additional relevant awards before June 30, 2025, until all awardees have completed their programs (Sec. 18).

• Specifies that unspent funds from specific accounts relating to repealed programs shall be allocated to the department to fund Medicaid graduate medical education efforts (Sec. 18).

• Repeals state-funded psychiatry residency and fellowship positions at the University of Iowa (Sec. 22).

• Authorizes the Iowa Board of Regents to distribute funds for state-funded psychiatry residency and fellowship positions until all awardees have left their positions (Sec. 23).

• Specifies that unspent funds from specific accounts relating to repealed positions shall be allocated to the department to fund Medicaid graduate medical education efforts (Sec. 24).

• Repeals the Iowa Health Facilities Council, transfers relevant functions to the department, and amends chapter references accordingly (Sec. 27-62).

• Requires that the department compile all relevant financial and utilization data necessary to properly monitor hospital and health care facility charges and costs and specifies certain information which is to be collected under this effort (Sec. 63).

• Establishes a civil penalty not to exceed $500 per offense for hospitals and health care facilities that fail to provide the department with the required financial reports (Sec. 64).

• Establishes the Director of Health and Human Services and the Exchange Advisory Committee and repeals the Board of Directors (Sec. 75-79).

• Requires that the department conduct a competitive process to select a designated statewide Iowa health information network administrator every 8 years (Sec. 77).

• Specifies functions of the advisory committee (Sec. 79).

• Specifies that certain aforementioned provisions shall take effect immediately and conditionally upon the federal approval of the aforementioned Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services request (Sec. 2-12).

Full Bill Text