Iowa SF 129: A bill for an act relating to the submission and posting of certain hospital policies.

Bill Text

Senate File 129 - Introduced
SENATE FILE 129
BY PETERSEN, BISIGNANO,
WINCKLER, CELSI, DONAHUE,
DOTZLER, TOWNSEND, BENNETT,
and WEINER
A BILL FOR
An Act relating to the submission and posting of certain1
hospital policies.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:3
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S.F. 129
Section 1. NEW SECTION. 135B.36 Hospital policies ——1
submission to department —— posting.2
1. A hospital licensed under this chapter shall no later3
than September 1, 2025, submit to the department its policies4
related to all of the following:5
a. Nondiscrimination.6
b. Reproductive health care. For purposes of this7
section, “reproductive health care” means neonatal care, family8
planning, long-acting reversible contraception, permanent9
contraception including tubal ligations and vasectomies,10
abortion, miscarriage care, maternal hemorrhage care, and11
vaginal delivery after a previous cesarean section birth.12
c. If the hospital provides labor and delivery services,13
whether the hospital has adopted and implemented current14
best practices or safety bundles recommended by the American15
college of obstetricians and gynecologists and the alliance for16
innovation on maternal health, including but not limited to17
action measures for obstetrical hemorrhage, severe hypertension18
or preeclampsia, prevention of venous thromboembolism,19
reduction of low-risk primary cesarean births and support20
for intended vaginal births, reduction of peripartum racial21
disparities, and postpartum care access and standards.22
2. The department shall post a copy of the policies23
submitted under subsection 1 on the department’s internet site24
and shall develop and implement an interactive online tool that25
allows the public to compare posted policies.26
3. If a hospital alters a policy specified under subsection27
1, the hospital shall submit a copy of the altered policy to28
the department within thirty calendar days after the hospital29
approves the alteration.30
4. A hospital shall post a copy of its most recent policies31
submitted under the section on the hospital’s internet site32
where the policies are readily accessible to the public,33
without requiring a login credential or otherwise restricting34
access.35
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S.F. 129
Sec. 2. CODE EDITOR DIRECTIVE. The Code editor shall1
designate section 135B.36, as enacted in this Act, as a new2
subchapter within chapter 135B, entitled “patient’s right to3
know Act”.4
EXPLANATION5
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with6
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.7
This bill relates to the submission and posting of certain8
hospital policies.9
The bill requires a licensed hospital, no later than10
September 1, 2025, to submit its policies related to11
nondiscrimination and reproductive health care to the12
department of inspections, appeals, and licensing (DIAL). If13
the hospital provides labor and delivery services, it must14
also submit its policies related to certain best practices and15
safety bundles, as described in the bill. The bill defines16
“reproductive health care”.17
The bill requires DIAL to post a copy of the policies18
on DIAL’s internet site and to develop and implement an19
interactive online tool that allows the public to compare the20
policies.21
If a hospital makes a change to a policy, the hospital must22
submit a copy of the policy to DIAL within 30 calendar days23
after the hospital approves the alteration.24
The bill requires a hospital to post a copy of its policies25
on the hospital’s internet site where the policies are readily26
accessible to the public without requiring a login credential27
or otherwise restricting access.28
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