Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa House Bill HF12

Introduced
1/14/25  

Caption

A bill for an act relating to medical residency positions and audition clinicals for medical students and medical residency position applicants meeting certain criteria.(See HF 379.)

Summary

House File 12 would require the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to give an interview for an available residency slot to certain medical residency applicants in specified specialties if they meet one of three Iowa ties: they are an Iowa resident, earned an undergraduate degree from an Iowa college or university, or earned a medical degree from an Iowa medical school. The covered specialties are obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, general surgery, emergency medicine, cardiology, neurology, and primary care. The bill also requires UIHC to offer medical students attending an Iowa medical school the opportunity to complete an audition clinical in the specialty they are applying for, so the program can evaluate them in a clinical setting. In addition, UIHC must submit an annual report to the governor and the General Assembly describing the audition clinicals and interviews, including who was offered and participated, whether applicants were accepted, and how many residency positions were filled by applicants meeting the bill’s criteria.

Impact

The bill would create new statutory duties for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in its residency selection process, effectively adding a preference-based interview requirement for certain Iowa-connected applicants in high-demand specialties. It would also formalize audition clinical opportunities for Iowa medical students and impose annual reporting obligations to state officials. The practical effect is to shape how UIHC recruits and evaluates residency candidates, while increasing transparency about how many positions are filled by applicants with Iowa ties.

Sentiment

The available voting history suggests the bill had meaningful support in committee, passing the House Committee on Education by a 15-5 vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate to indicate detailed arguments for or against the measure. Overall, the bill appears to have been viewed favorably by a majority of committee members, but not unanimously.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely the bill’s preferential treatment of applicants with Iowa residency or educational ties, which could be seen as helping retain in-state talent but also as limiting flexibility in residency selection. Another possible concern is the administrative burden on UIHC, including the requirement to offer audition clinicals and produce annual reports. Supporters would likely emphasize workforce development and keeping physicians in Iowa, while opponents may question whether the mandate interferes with merit-based admissions or residency program autonomy.

Companion Bills

IA HF379

Similar To A bill for an act relating to medical residency and fellowship positions, and certain medical residency and fellowship position applicants.(Formerly HF 12.)

Previously Filed As

IA HF379

A bill for an act relating to medical residency and fellowship positions, and certain medical residency and fellowship position applicants.(Formerly HF 12.)

IA HF516

A bill for an act relating to medical residency and fellowship positions, including priority for admission to the university of Iowa's colleges of medicine and dentistry, and hospitals and clinics. (Formerly HF 137.) Effective date: 07/01/2025.

IA SB5226

AN ACT Relating to establishing funding for physician residency positions dedicated to international medical graduates in accordance with the waiver granted by the national residency matching program;

IA SB1354

Medicaid billing navigator positions; established.

IA HF301

A bill for an act requiring the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics to give priority to certain Iowa residents in awarding certain residencies and fellowships and to include rural rotations in certain residencies and fellowships.(Formerly HF 147.)

IA HF147

A bill for an act requiring the university of Iowa hospitals and clinics to give priority to certain Iowa residents in awarding certain residencies and fellowships and to include rural rotations in certain residencies and fellowships.(See HF 301.)

IA S1362

Claims for Adverse Reactions to Vaccines and Drugs Under the Medicare, Medicaid, and Medically Needy Programs

IA H1229

Residential Homes for Medically or Technologically Dependent Children

IA SB1044

Physicians for Underserved Areas ActThis bill modifies how a hospital's residency positions are redistributed after it closes for purposes of graduate medical education payments under Medicare.Under current law, if a hospital with an approved medical residency program closes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must redistribute the hospital's residency positions to other hospitals in the following order: (1) hospitals in the same core-based statistical area as the closed hospital, (2) hospitals in the same state as the closed hospital, (3) hospitals in the same region of the country as the closed hospital, and (4) other remaining hospitals. In order to receive the additional positions, hospitals must demonstrate a likelihood of filling the positions within three years.The bill removes the requirement that the CMS prioritize hospitals in the same region of the country as the closed hospital. It also requires hospitals to demonstrate a likelihood of (1) starting to use the positions within two years, and (2) filling the positions within five years.

IA HB870

Physicians for Underserved Areas Act This bill modifies how a hospital's residency positions are redistributed after it closes for purposes of graduate medical education payments under Medicare. Under current law, if a hospital with an approved medical residency program closes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) must redistribute the hospital's residency positions to other hospitals in the following order: (1) hospitals in the same core-based statistical area as the closed hospital, (2) hospitals in the same state as the closed hospital, (3) hospitals in the same region of the country as the closed hospital, and (4) other remaining hospitals. In order to receive the additional positions, hospitals must demonstrate a likelihood of filling the positions within three years. The bill removes the requirement that the CMS prioritize hospitals in the same region of the country as the closed hospital. It also requires hospitals to demonstrate a likelihood of (1) starting to use the positions within two years, and (2) filling the positions within five years.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.