House File 1049 appropriates funds from the general fund of the state to the Department of Health and Human Services for the fiscal year 2025-2026, focusing on a range of health and social service programs. Key allocations include approximately $1.9 billion for the medical assistance program, which covers various medical services and the Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (Hawki) program. The bill prohibits the use of funds for sex reassignment surgeries under the medical assistance program while ensuring that Medicaid reimbursement for other services remains unaffected. It also allocates funds for child abuse prevention, state child care assistance, and modernizing the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, along with provisions for nursing facility bed forecasting and reimbursement methodologies.

Additionally, the bill introduces amendments related to substance use treatment and hospital payment programs, establishing a new section for funding treatment and prevention efforts while reducing the allocation from the beer and liquor control fund for the Department of Health and Human Services. It creates a hospital directed payment program, requiring federal approval and allowing assessments on hospitals to fund the program's nonfederal share. The bill emphasizes accountability and compliance within the department, allows for the transfer of funds between appropriations, and ensures that unencumbered or unobligated funds remain available for future use. The provisions of this act are set to take effect immediately upon enactment and apply retroactively to July 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 231.56A, 135C.1, 8.33, 123.17
Enrolled: 231.56A, 135C.1, 8.33, 123.17