The bill, known as Masons Law, establishes regulations for pediatric palliative care centers (PPCCs) in Iowa. It defines a hospice patient as either an individual diagnosed as terminally ill with a life expectancy of one year or less, or a person under 21 years of age with a chronic, complex, life-threatening illness who is not expected to survive past 21 years. The bill specifies that a PPCC is a residential care facility that exclusively serves these young patients and provides respite care and hospice services. Notably, it allows PPCCs to offer care requiring registered or licensed practical nurses on a nonemergency basis, which is typically restricted for residential care facilities.

Additionally, the bill mandates the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt rules for PPCCs, ensuring they meet specific requirements, such as not serving more than twelve hospice patients at a time and having nursing staff available at all times. The bill also includes provisions for family accommodations and medication management within the centers. Furthermore, it allows PPCCs to be eligible for various funding sources available to licensed residential care facilities and hospice programs, thereby enhancing support for pediatric patients in need of specialized care.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10A.713, 135J.1, 135C.1