Bill
Bill > HF589
IA HF589
IA HF589A bill for an act creating the compassion and care for medically challenging pregnancies Act.(See HF 807.)
summary
Introduced
02/25/2025
02/25/2025
In Committee
02/25/2025
02/25/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
91st General Assembly
Bill Summary
This bill creates the “Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act”. The bill provides definitions for “department”, “health care practitioner”, “lethal fetal anomaly”, and “perinatal hospice service” as used in the bill. The bill provides that a health care practitioner who diagnoses a lethal fetal anomaly may inform the pregnant woman, orally and in person, that perinatal hospice services are available and offer to refer the pregnant woman for such services; or provide the pregnant woman with the list and information sheet regarding available perinatal hospice services compiled and provided by the department of health and human services (HHS). The bill requires HHS to compile a geographically organized list of, and an information sheet regarding, perinatal hospice services available in Iowa and nationally. HHS shall post the list and information sheet, available in both English and Spanish, on HHS’s internet site. The internet site and information sheet shall include a statement indicating that perinatal hospice services are an innovative and compassionate model of support for the pregnant woman who is informed that her baby has a lethal fetal anomaly and chooses to continue her pregnancy; a general description of the perinatal hospice services available; and at the request of a perinatal hospice service included on the list, the perinatal hospice service’s informational materials and contact information, including whether 24-hour perinatal hospice services are available.
AI Summary
This bill creates the "Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act," which establishes a framework for supporting pregnant women who receive a diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly (a condition that will likely result in the infant's death within three months of birth). The bill defines key terms, including what constitutes a health care practitioner (physicians, advanced registered nurse practitioners) and perinatal hospice services (comprehensive support from diagnosis through birth, death, and postpartum period). It requires the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to compile and publish a comprehensive list of perinatal hospice services available in Iowa and nationally, with the list to be available in both English and Spanish. Health care practitioners who diagnose a lethal fetal anomaly are permitted to inform patients about perinatal hospice services, either by verbally offering a referral or providing the patient with the department's official list and information sheet. The information published must include a supportive statement about perinatal hospice services, a general description of available services, and contact information for specific hospice services, potentially including whether 24-hour services are available. The goal of the bill appears to be providing compassionate, comprehensive support and information to families facing challenging pregnancy diagnoses.
Committee Categories
Health and Social Services
Sponsors (3)
Last Action
House Local Government Committee (14:30:00 2/17/2026 RM 19) (on 02/17/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF589 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/publications/LGI/91/attachments/HF589.html |
Loading...