Iowa 2025-2026 Regular Session

Iowa Senate Bill SF618

Caption

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.)

Impact

In addition to creating a new funding model, SF618 eliminates several existing health care-related programs, including the primary care recruitment and retention program (PRIMECARRE) and various loan repayment programs for health professionals. By withdrawing funding from these established programs, the bill is expected to shift financial resources toward a newly created health care professional incentive program aimed at recruiting and retaining health care professionals in underserved areas. This program is designed to provide financial incentives for eligible health care providers to work in designated high-need regions of Iowa.

Summary

Senate File 618, aimed at reforming Iowa's health care system, introduces significant changes through a variety of provisions focusing on improving health care access, especially in rural areas. The bill establishes a health care hub-and-spoke partnership funding model that seeks to enhance collaboration among health care providers in rural settings. This model is intended to ensure better and more sustainable health care delivery across the state, pending federal approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Contention

Despite its potential benefits, the bill has garnered criticism for eliminating programs that have supported health care professionals in rural communities. Opponents argue that the removal of established assistance programs may exacerbate the shortage of providers in these areas, limiting access to essential health services. They express concern that while the goal of increasing the health workforce is laudable, the method of reallocating funds away from successful programs may hinder rather than help the state's health care infrastructure.

Companion Bills

IA HF754

Similar To 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 SF575

Similar To 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 SSB 1163; See SF 618.)

IA HF972

Similar To 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 HF 754, HSB 191.) Contingent effective date, effective 05/28/2025, 07/01/2025.

IA HSB191

Related 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.(See HF 754, HF 972.)

IA SSB1163

Related 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.(See SF 575, SF 618.)

Previously Filed As

IA SF575

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 SSB 1163; See SF 618.)

IA SSB1163

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.(See SF 575, SF 618.)

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 HF972

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 HF 754, HSB 191.) Contingent effective date, effective 05/28/2025, 07/01/2025.

IA HSB191

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.(See HF 754, HF 972.)

IA SF2202

A bill for an act relating to subacute mental health care facilities and services, and including effective date provisions.(Formerly SSB 3083.)

IA HF2676

A bill for an act relating to health-related matters, including health-related professions, nutrition, medication, and education, and including effective date and applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 694.) Effective Date: Conditional, 07/01/2026. Applicability date: 07/01/2027.

IA SF2422

A bill for an act relating to public assistance programs under the purview of the department of health and human services, including the supplemental nutrition assistance program, Medicaid, and the Iowa health and wellness plan, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 3140.) Effective date: Enactment, 01/01/2027.

IA SF2432

A bill for an act eliminating a city's ability to create a city board of health or a city health department, and including effective date provisions. (Formerly SSB 3135.)

IA A09137

Makes permanent certain provisions relating to reimbursement for commercial and Medicaid services provided via telehealth; establishes the rural healthcare professional loan repayment award program and the rural healthcare professional tax credit program; establishes a tax credit for rural healthcare providers.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.