The bill aims to reform Iowa's health care system by implementing a hub-and-spoke partnership funding model to enhance financial support for rural health care providers. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services to seek federal approval for this model and establishes a new health care professional incentive program to recruit and retain professionals in underserved areas. Significant changes include the elimination of several existing programs, such as the rural Iowa primary care loan repayment program and various residency and fellowship programs, with unencumbered funds from these programs being redirected to the new incentive program. The bill also modifies the management of funds related to Medicaid graduate medical education, ensuring that unobligated funds are appropriated for educational efforts.

Additionally, the bill centralizes authority within the Department of Health and Human Services by repealing the section concerning state-funded psychiatry residency and fellowship positions and transferring the responsibilities of the health facilities council to the department. It introduces amendments to streamline the regulatory process for health services, including changes to the procedures for obtaining certificates of need and the reporting requirements for health care facilities. The bill also establishes a new framework for the Iowa health information network, appointing an exchange advisory committee to oversee health information exchange standards. Overall, the legislation seeks to enhance the efficiency of health service delivery while ensuring accountability and compliance among health care providers.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 135.107, 249M.4, 135.175, 135.180, 10A.713, 10A.714, 10A.716, 10A.719, 10A.720, 10A.721, 10A.722, 10A.723, 68B.35, 99G.8, 10A.711, 135C.1, 10A.715, 10A.717, 10A.724, 10A.725, 10A.727, 10A.728, 10A.729, 10A.726, 135B.5A, 135C.2, 225C.26, 144D.1, 231C.18, 708.3A, 147A.1, 135D.2, 135D.4, 135D.5, 135D.6, 135D.7