Fiscal Note
Fiscal Services Division
HF 2577 – Guardianships, Hospice and End-of-Life Care and Decisions (LSB6282HV)
Staff Contact: Lindsey Ingraham (515.281.6764) lindsey.ingraham@legis.iowa.gov
Fiscal Note Version – New
Description
House File 2577 relates to end-of-life care under guardianships of adults by specifying what is
included as a decision regarding a protected person’s health, including end-of-life decisions, for
court-ordered guardians.
Background
Established in Iowa Code chapter 231E, the Office of Public Guardian (OPG) may act as an
individual’s guardian, conservator, or representative payee. Under current law, a court may
grant a guardian the ability to make decisions regarding the care, maintenance, health,
education, welfare, and safety of the protected person except as otherwise limited by the court,
which the guardian may exercise thereafter without prior court approval.
Assumptions
• The OPG anticipates increased costs of approximately $25 per client, per month, for
between 110 and 220 existing clients resulting in an annual cost increase between $33,000
and $66,000. These fees are paid to the OPG by the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).
• The OPG anticipates an additional one to two applications for public guardianship services
per month with an average case opening fee of $2,500 and continuing costs of $350 per
month for an estimated annual cost increase between $53,000 and $106,000.
• The OPG anticipates increased call volumes to Adult Protective Services, the expense of
which is expected to be absorbed within current operating expenses.
Fiscal Impact
The total fiscal impact of HF 2577 would be approximately $129,000 per year in increased case
costs to the HHS.
Sources
Department of Health and Human Services
Legislative Services Agency
/s/ Jennifer Acton
March 6, 2024
Doc ID 1447093
The fiscal note for this Bill was prepared pursuant to Joint Rule 17 and the Iowa Code. Data used in developing this
fiscal note is available from the Fiscal Services Division of the Legislative Services Agency upon request.
www.legis.iowa.gov
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 633.635