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Member News Bulletin September 18, 2024

Legislative update: Week seven

The seventh week of the legislative session has been extremely busy and competitive as legislators and interest groups hustle to ensure bills are introduced and advance through committees in both chambers prior to the first funnel deadline on March 5. Bills that do not successfully move through this process are no longer eligible for consideration this session. The IHCA lobby team continues to advocate for our legislative priorities and play defense on a host of bills that would negatively impact members.

Bill tracking

Bills of note to IHCA members this week include:

  • SF 378/HF 268: Authorized Electronic Monitoring in Nursing Facilities. The bill provides that a nursing facility resident or a resident representative may conduct electronic monitoring of the resident’s room through the use of electronic monitoring devices placed in the resident’s room with proper consents and pursuant to the bill. It was introduced in the Senate and was referred to the Human Resources Committee on Feb. 16. The House introduced the bill and referred it to the Human Resources Committee on Jan. 28, however, there has been no movement since. IHCA is registered opposed and is actively working to kill this bill.
  • SCR 5: Resident Visitation. This is a Senate concurrent resolution encouraging the U.S. Congress to provide flexibility to the states in determining visitation practices in nursing facilities, and was introduced by President of the Senate Jake Chapman on Feb. 16. IHCA has been actively involved in conversations with Senator Chapman regarding the resolution and will remain engaged in monitoring its progress. The resolution was assigned a subcommittee of Senators Cournoyer, Bisignano and Koelker on Feb. 23.
  • SF 300: Dependent Adult Abuse. This is an act relating to the definition of dependent adult abuse. The bill adds the death of a dependent adult that occurs due to certain acts or omissions by a caretaker to the definition of dependent adult abuse for purposes of the dependent adult abuse registry. It was voted out of the Senate Committee on Feb. 22 and will now go to the debate calendar. IHCA is registered for the bill.
  • HF 431: Telehealth. This legislation relates to the provision of audio-only telehealth or telemedicine by health care professionals. IHCA is registered for the bill, which passed the House on Feb. 16. A subcommittee of Senators Costello, Mathis and Sweeney was assigned on Feb. 22.
  • HSB 224: Pharmacy – Any Willing Provider. This act relates to participating network provider pharmacies and pharmacists under Medicaid managed care. It requires managed care organizations (MCOs) to accept as a participating network provider any licensed pharmacy or pharmacist located within the geographic service area of the MCO if the licensed pharmacy or pharmacist complies with the terms in the MCOs network and meets the conditions for participation in the Medicaid program. IHCA is registered for this bill. A subcommittee and full committee are scheduled for Feb. 25.
  • SF 364: Paycheck Protection Program. This bill allows certain deductions relating to the paycheck protection program loan forgiveness. IHCA is registered for the bill.
  • HSB 225: Claims Overpayment. The bill relates to the timeframe applicable to the adjustment of overpayment of claims under the Medicaid program. If Medicaid or the MCOs discover an overpayment to a provider, the provider shall not be subject to repayment of the overpayment or to offset against future reimbursement of claims by the provider if 12 months or more have elapsed since the overpayment was made. IHCA is registered for this bill.

Click here to view a list of all the bills the IHCA is tracking.

Other news at the Iowa Statehouse

Redistricting
Due to ongoing challenges and uncertainties related to COVID-19, the U.S. Census Bureau recently announced the delayed release of census information. A new deadline of Sept. 30, 2021 has been established for states to receive redistricting data. Because Iowa’s current redistricting process requires approval of a map by Sept. 15, legislators were already expected to hold a special session on the topic. However, the Census Bureau’s recently announced delay poses a new challenge for legislators in addressing the issue.

Last week, Republican and Democrat leadership appointed members to the Temporary Redistricting Advisory Commission. Chris Hagenow, vice president of Iowans for Tax Relief and former House majority leader, and David Roederer, recently retired director of Iowa’s Office of Management, were appointed by Republicans. Deidre DeJear, an Iowa Secretary of State candidate in 2018, and Bettendorf attorney Ian Russell were selected by Democrats. A fifth member will be voted on by this group in the near future.

Upon receipt of population data from the Census Bureau, Iowa’s Legislative Services Agency (LSA) will propose new maps to this committee for review. A minimum of three statewide public hearings must take place to gather input from the public. That information will be submitted to the Iowa Legislature which must be approved by Sept. 1, 2021. The redistricting proposal will then be reviewed by the governor and must be enacted by Sept. 15, 2021. However, due to the delays recently announced by the Census Bureau, if those deadlines are not met, the Iowa Supreme Court must become involved and assist in redistricting decisions by Dec. 31, 2021. 

Federal updates

  • The most recent COVID-19 stimulus package is on the move for a vote in the House this week. Nine versions of the relief package were passed through House committees last week, and it’s expected this week the Budget Committee will combine all versions into one bill, which will be sent to the Rules Committee. The House floor vote on the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan is expected on Feb. 26 and the bill is expected to pass. Upon passage, it would move to the Senate, where all 50 Senate Democrats must vote in favor of the bill for the legislation to pass.
  • The Medicare-X Choice Act was introduced last week by sponsors Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA). The act would create a public option by expanding on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicare. The senators stated that the Medicare Exchange plan would, “offer families, individuals and small businesses low-cost health insurance, decrease the number of uninsured Americans, control the cost of health care and increase competition in the health insurance market.”
  • Several COVID-19 and health related hearings are taking place in both chambers this week, including a House vote on the budget reconciliation bill that includes COVID-19 stimulus aid, a hearing on expanding availability of COVID-19 vaccines and multiple nomination hearings for appointments in the Department of Health and Human Services (HSS) and Public Health Service.
  • Chiquita Brooks-LaSure has been appointed by the Biden administration to serve as the administrator of CMS and Liz Fowler will lead the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) within CMS.
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