The bill aims to reform Iowa's health care system by implementing a hub-and-spoke partnership funding model to improve rural health care delivery. It requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to seek federal approval for this model and establishes a new health care professional incentive program to attract and retain health care professionals in underserved areas. The bill also makes appropriations for various health care initiatives while repealing several existing programs, including the rural Iowa primary care loan repayment program and the health care workforce support initiative, reallocating unencumbered funds to the new incentive program. Additionally, it introduces provisions for Medicaid graduate medical education and requests enhanced payments to support medical residencies.

Significant changes include the repeal of state-funded psychiatry residency and fellowship positions, with funding for positions approved before June 30, 2025, still being distributed. The bill also streamlines the process for issuing certificates of need for new institutional health services by transferring responsibilities from a council to HHS and updating the application process. It amends various sections of the Iowa Code, including replacing references to certain sections and establishing an exchange advisory committee to oversee the Iowa health information network. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance the efficiency of health service delivery, increase the number of medical residencies, and maximize federal funding opportunities for graduate medical education in Iowa.

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.726, 10A.727, 10A.728, 10A.729, 135.131, 135B.5A, 135C.2, 225C.26, 144D.1, 231C.18, 708.3A, 147A.1, 135D.2, 135D.4, 135D.5, 135D.6, 135D.7