Iowa 2023-2024 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SSB1133

Introduced
2/6/23  
Introduced
2/6/23  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to the health and well-being of children and families including provisions for rural emergency hospitals, regional centers of excellence, noneconomic damage awards against health care providers, a state-funded family medicine obstetrical fellowship program, self-administered hormonal contraceptives, review and approval of and public policy considerations relating to insurance benefits, maternal support and fatherhood initiatives, state employee parental leave, modification of property tax provisions for certain commercial child care properties, adoption expenses under the adoption subsidy program, and accessibility to the all Iowa scholarship program; providing for appropriations, fines, and penalties; and including effective date and applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.

Impact

By legally recognizing rural emergency hospitals, the bill aims to improve access to emergency services in rural regions where such facilities are scarce. This is anticipated to enhance healthcare delivery and potentially reduce patient transfers to distant hospitals, which could save lives. The proposed changes in noneconomic damage awards are also significant; by introducing a cap based on specific circumstances, the bill seeks to balance the protection of healthcare providers against the rights of patients to receive just compensation for their injuries.

Summary

Senate Study Bill 1133 proposes several measures aimed at enhancing the health and well-being of children and families. The bill introduces provisions for the establishment of rural emergency hospitals, which are designed to provide essential medical services in underserved areas. Additionally, it sets up a grant program for regional centers of excellence to foster healthcare innovation and collaboration, specifically targeting improvements in rural health care delivery. The bill also tackles the issue of noneconomic damages in medical malpractice cases, proposing new definitions and adjustments to the existing cap on such damages, which has sparked considerable debate.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SSB1133 include the proposed adjustments to the noneconomic damage cap, which critics argue may limit patients' rights and undermine accountability among healthcare providers. Furthermore, while the introduction of rural emergency hospitals is widely supported, the funding and operational sustainability of these facilities remain concern points, leading to questions about how effectively the proposed program will function in practice. Furthermore, the inclusion of self-administered hormonal contraceptives has stirred discussions about reproductive health policies and insurance coverage for such medical needs.

Companion Bills

IA HSB91

Related A bill for an act relating to the health and well-being of children and families including provisions for rural emergency hospitals, regional centers of excellence, noneconomic damage awards against health care providers, a state-funded family medicine obstetrical fellowship program, self-administered hormonal contraceptives, review and approval of and public policy considerations relating to insurance benefits, maternal support and fatherhood initiatives, state employee parental leave, modification of property tax provisions for certain commercial child care properties, adoption expenses under the adoption subsidy program, and accessibility to the all Iowa scholarship program; providing for appropriations, fines, and penalties; and including effective date and applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(See HF 427.)

IA HF427

Replaced by A bill for an act relating to the health and well-being of children and families including provisions for regional centers of excellence, a state-funded family medicine obstetrical fellowship program, self-administered hormonal contraceptives, maternal support and fatherhood initiatives, adoption expenses under the adoption subsidy program, and accessibility to the all Iowa scholarship program; making appropriations; and including effective date and applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 91.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF2040

A bill for an act relating to damage awards against health care providers, and including applicability provisions.

IA HF152

A bill for an act relating to the federal summer electronic benefits transfer for children program, making an appropriation, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

IA SF532

A bill for an act relating to health care facilities, providing penalties, making an appropriation, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

IA HF1026

A bill for an act relating to the adoption tax credit available against the individual income tax, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 965.)

IA SF326

A bill for an act relating to the federal summer electronic benefits transfer for children program (SUN bucks), making an appropriation, and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisions.

IA SF618

A bill for an act relating to health care including a funding model for the rural health care system; the elimination of several health care-related award, grant, residency, and fellowship programs; establishment of a health care professional incentive program; Medicaid graduate medical education; the health facilities council; and the Iowa health information network, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SF 575, SSB 1163.)

IA HF991

A bill for an act placing assessment limitations for property tax purposes on commercial child care facilities, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 316.)

IA HF2713

A bill for an act relating to education, including by modifying provisions related to charter schools, the Iowa public employees' retirement system, financing programs for charter schools and nonpublic schools administered by the Iowa finance authority, the statewide voluntary preschool program for the school start date, training and licensure, and making appropriations, and including applicability and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly HSB 735; See HF 2754.)

IA HF754

A bill for an act relating to health care including a funding model for the rural health care system; the elimination of several health care-related award, grant, residency, and fellowship programs; establishment of a health care professional incentive program; Medicaid graduate medical education; the health facilities council; and the Iowa health information network, making appropriations, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly HSB 191; See HF 972.)

IA SF630

A bill for an act relating to state government, including matters under the purview of the department of management and state membership in the Iowa individual health benefit reinsurance association, and including effective date, applicability, and retroactive applicability provisions.(Formerly SF 307, SSB 1083.)

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.