Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal:
“We did some things on job creation in this state on making sure that the resources are there to provide for education and training of employees in this state to match the skills to the jobs that are out there and get thousands of Iowans back to work. So I’m pretty excited about some of the things we did for higher education and in particular community colleges. There are disappointments, there are disappointments in every session. I would have really loved to have gotten something done on commercial property taxes in this state. In the end we felt the plan that the Governor was advancing was one that would shift taxes to homeowners and we couldn’t go along with that.”

Video, audio and a transcript can be found at IPTV.

FLOOR & COMMITTEE ACTION:

HJR 2008 nullifies the amendment to the Department of Human Services (DHS) rule providing for Medicaid reimbursement paid to physicians for services rendered in a facility setting. The amendment to the rule provides for adjustment of the reimbursement by a percentage differential that is equal to the percentage difference between the Medicare nonfacility and facility fee schedule amounts for Iowa. By nullifying the amendment to the rule, the reimbursement will remain based on an adjustment factor as determined by DHS. [4/25: 43-0 (Anderson, Chelgren, Hamerlinck, Kapucian, McKinley Rielly, Sorenson excused)] [4/24: short form]

FLOOR ACTION:

HF 2422 was originally based upon recommendations of the Governor’s workgroup that looked at how to improve safety of residents at nursing homes, residential care facilities and assisted living programs when sex offenders are residents. The bill says a nursing home, residential care facility or assisted living program is not required to admit an individual through a court order, referral or any other means without the express prior approval of the administrator of the facility or program. The bill establishes a Workforce Development Group and a Facility for Sexual Offenders Committee to work on an adequate workforce, and to study options for designating a special facility for sex offenders. HF 2422 was amended by the Senate. The Senate amendment:

** Strikes House language relating to notification of sex offenders living in facilities.

** Adds language that says no sexually violent predator is to be released to a health care facility.

** Keeps House language that says an assisted living program is not required to house anyone they don’t agree to house.

** Keeps House language that says clerks of court must notify the Department of Inspections & Appeals (DIA) when a sex offender is committed to a nursing facility, etc.

** Strikes House language that requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to find placements over the next year for all persons on the sex offender registry who are currently in nursing facilities, residential care facilities or being discharged from the Department of Corrections (and needing care).

** Keeps House language that establishes a Workforce Development Workgroup (or says a workforce development workgroup established in conjunction with the mental health and disability services legislation) to address issues related to an adequate workforce to deal with sex offenders.

** Keeps House language that establishes a workgroup to investigate the need for a facility to house sex offenders in need of nursing care, residential care, etc.

** Adds DHS to work in conjunction with DIA to facilitate the workgroup.

** Removes legislators as ex officio members of the workgroup.

** Allows facilities to discharge registered sex offenders. [4/18: 47-0 (Houser, Kapucian, Ward excused)]

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2289 authorizes the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) to implement an ongoing contract with a provider with local offices throughout the state to serve as the local administrative entity for the Iowa Individual Disaster Aid program. This will allow distribution of the aid in a faster, more efficient manner. [4/3: 48-0 (Bertrand, Horn excused)]

SF 2312—Mental Health Redesign – Judicial

HF 2388—Hospital payments

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2164 relates to the Department of Human Services (DHS) evaluations of criminal or abuse records of employees of health care facilities. It maintains the requirement for DHS to do new record checks. The bill allows an employee to change to a new job that is a comparable position without having a new evaluation if it is determined that the record does not warrant prohibition of the person’s employment and the latest record checks were clean. The House added an amendment to provide the same process for child care providers. [3/26: 50-0]

SF 2312 relates to those with mental health illnesses and substance-related disorders and is based on recommendations from the DHS/Judicial Workgroup that is part of the Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) redesign process. It is one of three bills put forward by the MHDS Redesign Interim Committee. It clarifies definitions, recommends mental health training for law enforcement, requires approval before admittance at Residential Care Facilities and Nursing Facilities, amends the current emergency detention and hospitalization procedures, establishes a pre-application screening process, provides for mental health advocates for those found not guilty by reason of insanity, calls for a study of jail diversion and mental health courts, and continues the workgroup for another year.  The House amended SF 2312 to make the prescreening application process before mandatory committal. [3/27: House amendment failed on voice vote]

HF 2388 directs DHS to recalculate the Hospital-specific Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) limits for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, and use the federal DSH allotment to the maximum extent possible, using appropriate local government sources for the non-federal match. The new pool is to be used to provide payments to rural prospective payment hospitals that are not designated as Critical Access Hospitals. [3/26: 31-19 (Anderson, Bacon, Bartz, Behn, Bertrand, Dix, Ernst, Feenstra, Hahn, Hamerlinck, Houser, Johnson, Kapucian, McKinley, Smith, Sorenson, Ward, Whitver, Zaun “no”)]

HF 2226—Child Abuse Registry Changes

HF 2305—Department on Aging Policy Bill

HF 2306—Membership of Medicaid Advisory Council

HF 2320—Department on Aging Reorganization

HF 2368—Birth Resulting in Stillbirth Certificate

HF 2387—Elder Abuse Study

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2318 was referred to Ways and Means and passed unanimously. It provides for the creation of a statewide health information network referred to as the Iowa Health Information Network (IHIN). It also provides for components that are critical to its development and operation. The network will provide for the secure electronic sharing of health information. The bill specifies the duties of the Department of Public Health in the day-to-day operations of the IHIN. The bill creates an IHIN fund in the state treasury. [3/19: 45-5 (Anderson, Behn, Dix, Hamerlinck, Sorenson “no”)]

HF 2226 is based on the recommendations of the Workgroup on Iowa’s Child Abuse Registry that was established last year in House File 562. It allows additional information to be submitted in child abuse cases; makes changes to speed up the appeals process; allows coordination of contested case proceedings with court cases; amends appeal filing timelines; de-links child abuse cases; and requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a comprehensive review regarding a differential response to child abuse reports; and DHS and the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) to report to the General Assembly regarding the length of time for appeals. [3/19: 50-0]

HF 2320 allows the Department on Aging to continue efforts to reorganize the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). The bill eliminates the requirement that the Commission on Aging designate 13 AAAs and directs the Commission to designate an AAA for each planning and service area in the state. The Commission is directed to complete the new designations by July 1, 2013, based on the plan submitted to the Legislature and in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act. [3/19: 29-21 (Anderson, Bacon, Bartz, Behn, Bertrand, Boettger, Chelgren, Courtney, Dix, Ernst, Feenstra, Fraise, Greiner, Hahn, Hamerlinck, Houser, Kettering, Kibbie, McKinley, Smith, Sorenson “no”)]

HF 2305 makes changes to the Department on Aging Code sections to remain in compliance with the Older Americans Act. It also makes various technical updates and clarifications to the Department’s responsibilities. It requires Aging and Disability Resource Centers to be dementia-capable. [3/21: 49-1 (McKinley “no”)]

HF 2306 adds three new members to the Medical Assistance Advisory Council: Iowa Diabetic Association; Iowa Behavioral Health Association; and the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services or an affiliated organization. [3/21: 50-0]

HF 2368 provides for the issuance of a “certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth.” Only a parent named on a fetal death certificate issued pursuant to Iowa Code 144.30 may request the new certificate from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The new certificate of stillbirth will include this statement: “This certificate is not proof of live birth.” The stillbirth certificate is not required to be filed or registered and will not be used to establish, bring or support a civil cause of action seeking damages against any person for bodily injury, personal injury or wrongful death. [3/21: 50-0]

HF 2387 requires the Department on Aging to work with the DIA, DHS and the Attorney General’s Office to review issues related to abuse, neglect or exploitation of individuals in the state who are 60 years of age or older. A report is due to the General Assembly by December 15, 2012. [3/21: 49-0 (McKinley excused)]

HF 2226—Child Abuse Registry Changes

HF 2305—Iowa Department on Aging Policy Bill

HF 2306—Membership of Medicaid Advisory Council

HF 2345—Child Custody

HF 2368—Stillbirth Certificate

HF 2387—Elder Abuse Study

HF 2388—Hospital Payments

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2315 redesigns the current county-based mental health and disability services system into a regional system with statewide standards, regional administration and locally delivered services. The bill sets out core service domain areas, creates a sub-acute level of care, eliminates legal settlement, establishes a uniform functional assessment process, and sets up workgroups to study workforce issues and outcome measures. The redesigned system will provide clients with timely access to an individualized set of person-centered services that is consistent across the state. [3/12: 32-18 (Anderson, Behn, Bertrand, Chelgren, Dix, Feenstra, Fraise, Greiner, Hahn, Hamerlinck, Houser, Johnson, Kapucian, Kettering, McKinley, Smith, Sorenson, Whitver “no”)]

COMMITTEE ACTION:

HF 2226 is based on the recommendations of the Workgroup on Iowa’s Child Abuse Registry that was established last year in House File 562. It allows additional information to be submitted in child abuse cases; makes changes to speed up the appeals process; allows coordination of contested case proceedings with court cases; amends appeal filing timelines; de-links child abuse cases; and requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct a comprehensive review regarding a differential response to child abuse reports; and DHS and the Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) to report to the General Assembly regarding the length of time for appeals. [3/14: short form]

HF 2305 makes changes to the Department on Aging Code sections to remain in compliance with the Older Americans Act. It also makes various technical updates and clarifications to the Department’s responsibilities. It requires Aging and Disability Resource Centers to be dementia-capable. [3/14: short form]

HF 2306 adds three new members to the Medical Assistance Advisory Council: Iowa Diabetic Association; Iowa Behavioral Health Association; and the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Services or an affiliated organization. [3/14: short form]

HF 2387 requires the Department on Aging to work with the DIA, DHS and the Attorney General’s Office to review issues related to abuse, neglect or exploitation of individuals in the state who are 60 years of age or older. A report is due to the General Assembly by December 15, 2012. [3/14: short form]

HF 2368 provides for the issuance of a “certificate of birth resulting in stillbirth.” Only a parent named on a fetal death certificate issued pursuant to Iowa Code 144.30 may request the new certificate from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The new certificate of stillbirth will include this statement: “This certificate is not proof of live birth.” The stillbirth certificate is not required to be filed or registered and will not be used to establish, bring or support a civil cause of action seeking damages against any person for bodily injury, personal injury or wrongful death. [3/14: short form]

HF 2345 adds to the list of factors the court is to consider in determining the best interest of a child in a custody arrangement. The new factor is whether a parent has allowed a person custody or control of, or unsupervised access to, a child after knowing the person is required to register with or is on the sex offender registry. [3/14: short form]

HF 2388 directs DHS to recalculate the Hospital-specific Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) limits for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2012, and use the federal DSH allotment to the maximum extent possible, using appropriate local government sources for the non-federal match. The new pool is to be used to provide payments to rural prospective payment hospitals that are not designated as Critical Access Hospitals. [3/14: short form]

SF 2270—Alzheimer’s Disease Response Strategy

SF 2289—Iowa Individual Disaster Aid

SF 2312—Mental Health Redesign — Judicial

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2160 allows an individual or family member to supplement the Medicaid payment for a private room at a nursing facility in certain circumstances. [3/5: 43-7 (Behn, Boettger, Chelgren, Greiner, Kettering, Seymour, Zaun “no”)]

SF 2270 directs the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to lead the effort to expand the state-level infrastructure necessary to prepare for long-term, comprehensive support of Alzheimer’s disease-related activities in the state. IDPH is to establish a full-time Alzheimer’s disease coordinator that will broaden awareness of the disease; lead and coordinate data collection among public and private entities; coordinate efforts to expand access to quality services; and act as a liaison to other public and private groups. IDPH shall also convene a multidisciplinary advisory council. [3/5: 44-6 (Behn, Ernst, Feenstra, Kettering, McKinley, Zaun “no”)]

SF 2289 authorizes the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) to implement an ongoing contract with a provider with local offices throughout the state to serve as the local administrative entity for the Iowa Individual Disaster Aid program. This will allow distribution of the aid in a faster, more efficient manner. [3/5:  49-0 (Behn excused)]

SF 2312 relates to persons with mental health illnesses and substance-related disorders and is based on recommendations from the DHS/Judicial Workgroup that is part of the Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) redesign process. It is one of three bills put forward by the MHDS Redesign Interim Committee. It clarifies definitions, recommends mental health training for law enforcement, requires approval before admittance at Residential Care Facilities and Nursing Facilities, amends the current emergency detention and hospitalization procedures, establishes a pre-application screening process, provides for mental health advocates for persons found not guilty by reason of insanity, calls for a study of jail diversion and mental health courts, and continues the workgroup for another year. [3/5: 49-0 (Behn excused)]

SF 2159—Confidentiality of Child Support Enforcement Information

SF 2163—Adult Day Services Certification

SF 2164—DHS Evaluation of Background Checks

SF 2165—Child Support Recovery Paternity Documentation

SF 2180—Iowa Individual Disaster Aid

SF 2185—Supervision Ratio of Physician Assistants

SF 2186—Suspension of Medicaid for Inmates

SF 2188—Foster Care Licensing Renewal

SF 2242—Out of Home Placements for Children

SF 2243—Licensed Social Worker Loan Repayment Program

SF 2247—Mental Health Redesign—Terminology change

SF 2248—Respiratory Care Services

SF 2312—Mental Health Redesign—Judicial Changes

SSB 3152—Mental Health Redesign

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2123 is a Board of Pharmacy bill. It amends the Iowa Controlled Substances Act and the Iowa Precursor Substances Act to conform to current federal law. Criminal penalties applicable to violations involving the drugs that are listed in this bill are also identified [2/27: 50-0]

SF 2159 is a Department of Humans Services (DHS)/Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) bill. It conforms state child support statute with federal child support regulations published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The regulations implement safeguards for confidential information. The regulations allow CSRU to use or disclose information only for administration of the child support program and to provide information to other government agencies for certain programs. The information will remain available to parents or parties in the case. [2/27: 50-0]

SF 2163 is a Department of Inspections and Appeals (DIA) bill. It grants an exception from the state certification requirement to an adult day services program under Code chapter 231D, if the program is certified as a Federal Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Currently, there are two certified PACE programs in Iowa (the Sioux City area and in Council Bluffs). They will now be inspected by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and DHS instead of DIA.  [2/27: 50-0]

SF 2164 relates to DHS evaluations of criminal or abuse records of employees of health care facilities. It maintains the requirement for DHS to do new record checks. The bill allows an employee to change to a new job that is a comparable position without having a new evaluation, if it was determined that the record did not warrant prohibition of the person’s employment and the latest record checks were clean. [2/27: 50-0]

SF 2165 is a DHS/Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) bill. It allows the CSRU to use an administrative procedure more often, rather than the full judicial process, to seek a court order to legally establish paternity for a child. [2/27: 50-0]

SF 2185 allows a licensed physician to supervise up to five physician assistants at one time. The decision to supervise any number of physician assistants is up to the physician. Under current law, a physician assistant must work under the supervision of a licensed physician, and a licensed physician is allowed to supervise no more than two physician assistants at one time. [2/28: 50-0]

SF 2186 allows the suspension, rather than termination, of Medicaid for inmates who were eligible for Medicaid upon commitment to prison. This allows Medicaid to be reinstated faster upon their release. [2/29: 50-0]

SF 2188 increases the time period a foster care license for an individual is valid from one to two years upon successfully completing the first two-year period as a foster parent. [2/28: 50-0]

SF 2242 requires DHS to report annually by December 15 to the Governor and Legislature regarding the status of the efforts by DHS and others involved with the child welfare system to make every reasonable effort to place children in the least restrictive, most family-like and most appropriate setting available. [2/28: 49-0 (Hatch excused)]

SF 2243 creates a licensed social worker loan repayment program administered by the College Student Aid Commission. Applicants must enter into an agreement with the Commission, agreeing to work for a specific period of time in a “critical human services area.” [2/29: 27-23 (party-line with Anderson voting “yes”)]

SF 2248 allows licensed Physician Assistants and licensed Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, when operating under prescribing authority, to prescribe respiratory care. [2/29: 50-0]

SF 2247 replaces the term “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” with the term “intellectual disability” throughout Iowa Code. [2/28: 50-0]

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SF 2180 authorizes DHS to implement an ongoing contract with a provider with local offices throughout the state to serve as the local administrative entity for the Iowa Individual Disaster Aid program. This will allow distribution of the aid in a faster, more efficient manner. [2/23: short form]

SF 2312 relates to persons with mental health illnesses and substance-related disorders and is based on recommendations from the DHS/Judicial Workgroup that is part of the Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) redesign process. It is one of three bills put forward by the MHDS Redesign Interim Committee. It clarifies definitions, recommends mental health training for law enforcement, requires approval before admittance at Residential Care Facilities and Nursing Facilities, amends the current emergency detention and hospitalization procedures, establishes a pre-application screening process, provides for mental health advocates for persons found not guilty by reason of insanity, calls for a study of jail diversion and mental health courts, and continues the workgroup for another year. [2/23: short from]

SSB 3152 redesigns the current county based mental health and disability services system into a regional system with statewide standards and locally delivered services. The bill sets out core service domain areas, creates a sub-acute level of care, eliminates legal settlement, establishes a uniform functional assessment process, sets up workgroups to study workforce issues and outcome measures, and repeals the repeal of the mental health levy. [2/23: short form (Whitver “no”)]

SF 2158—Medicaid Coverage of Speech Pathology

SSB 3039—Area Agencies on Aging Reorganization

SSB 3040—Respiratory Care Services

SSB 3079—Social Worker Loan Repayment Program

SSB 3136—Mental Health/Disability Services Terminology

SSB 3149—Alzheimer’s Disease Response Strategy

HF 2165—Iowa Physician Order for Scope of Treatment Form

FLOOR ACTION:

SF 2158 allows speech and language pathologists who are practicing independently to bill and be reimbursed by Iowa Medicaid. The bill directs the Department of Human Services to adopt rules entitling licensed speech pathologists, including those certified in independent practice, to payment for services provided to recipients of Medicaid. [2/22: 48-0 (Greiner, Houser excused)]

HF 2165 pertains to Iowa Physician Order for Scope of Treatment (IPOST), which has been piloted in Linn and Jones counties over the last four years in the Patient Autonomy pilot project. IPOST, based on a national movement, is a form intended as a communication tool for patients to articulate their treatment preferences based on their personal medical condition in consultation with their provider and family. An IPOST is meant to complement advance directives by translating patient treatment preferences into a medical order that may be relied upon by healthcare providers across all healthcare settings. It is meant for patients who have a serious, chronic condition, a terminal illness, or for the frail and elderly. The statewide advisory group for that pilot project recommended expansion of the pilot statewide, which this legislation authorizes. [2/22: 48-0 (Greiner, Houser excused)]

COMMITTEE ACTION:

SF 2101 requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) to report annually by December 15 to the Governor and Legislature regarding the status of the efforts made by DHS and others involved with the child welfare system to make every reasonable effort to place children in the least restrictive, most family-like, and most appropriate setting available. [2/21: short form]

SSB 3039 allows the Department on Aging to continue efforts to reorganize the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). The bill eliminates the requirement that the Commission on Aging designate 13 AAAs and directs the Commission to designate an AAA for each planning and service area in the state. The Commission is directed to complete the new designations by July 1, 2012, based on the plan submitted to the Legislature and in accordance with the federal Older Americans Act. There will be five planning and service areas and AAAs. The Commission is also directed to adopt policies and administrative rules that support the capabilities of the AAAs and the Aging and Disability Resource Centers to serve older individuals and persons with disabilities experiencing Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias. [2/21: short form (Bacon, Boettger, Johnson, Seymour, Whitver “no”)]

SSB 3040 clarifies that Physician Assistants (PAs) and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNPs) ability to prescribe respiratory care is limited to the prescribing authority that has been granted to them in Iowa Code Section 147.107. It creates a new definition of “qualified health care professional prescriber” and applies it to PAs and ARNPs acting under their prescribing authority in Sect. 147.107. It then changes all references to PAs and ARNPs in the bill to “qualified health care professional prescriber.” [2/21: short form]

SSB 3079 creates a licensed social worker loan repayment program administered by the College Student Aid Commission. It provides a loan repayment for licensed social workers agreeing to work for a specific period of time in a “critical human services area.” The bill sets up the fund but does not provide appropriations. [2/21: short form (Boettger, Whitver “no”)]

SSB 3136 replaces the term “mental retardation” and “mentally retarded” with the term “intellectual disability” throughout Iowa Code. [2/21: short form]

SSB 3149 directs the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) to lead the effort to expand the state-level infrastructure necessary to prepare for long-term, comprehensive support of Alzheimer’s disease-related activities in the state. IDPH is to establish a full-time Alzheimer’s disease coordinator that will broaden awareness of the disease; lead and coordinate data collection among public and private entities; coordinate efforts to expand access to quality services; and act as a liaison to other public and private groups. IDPH shall also convene a multidisciplinary advisory council. [2/21: short form]