SF 2222 – Allow pharmacists to dispense birth control without a prescription
SF 2254 – Insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders
SF 2279 – Credit Union Division omnibus
HF 2277 – Definition of ‘public utility’ to include electric transmission owners
FLOOR ACTION:
SF 2222 authorizes a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives to a person without evidence of a previous prescription from a practitioner. The Iowa Department of Public Health, in consultation with the Iowa Pharmacy Association and the Iowa Medical Society, and following guidelines of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, will adopt a statewide protocol.
The rules must require a pharmacist to prescribe and dispense an initial three-month supply. Upon verification of no adverse effects, they may then prescribe and dispense up to a year supply at one time. The rules must prohibit requiring a patient to schedule an appointment for the prescription.
The rules must require a pharmacist to complete a standardized training program for prescribing self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives that includes education on all contraceptive methods approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA); provide a standardized self-screening risk assessment tool to the patient for completion prior to receiving a prescription; and provide the patient with education regarding all contraceptive methods approved by the FDA prior to prescribing and dispensing the contraceptives. Upon prescribing and dispensing the contraceptives, the pharmacist must provide the patient with a written record and refer the patient to the patient’s primary practitioner or women’s health care practitioner for preventive visits. The pharmacist must dispense the contraceptives as soon as practicable after issuing the prescription.
Under the bill, a group policy or contract providing for third-party payment or prepayment of health or medical expenses, and individual policies must specifically provide for payment of up to a one-year supply, dispensed at one time, of self-administered oral hormonal contraceptives prescribed by an authorized practitioner, including a pharmacist. All state and federal laws governing insurance coverage of contraceptive drugs, devices, products and services apply.
[2/29: 26-22, party-line (Dix, Feenstra absent)]
SF 2254 requires certain group health policies, contracts or plans issued to employers with more than 50 employees and to health plans established under Code Chapter 509A for public employees to provide coverage for screening, diagnosis and evidence-based treatment for autism spectrum disorders for those under 22 when prescribed by a licensed physician or psychologist as medically necessary. This includes pharmacy care; psychiatric care; psychological care; speech, occupational and physical therapy; and behavioral health treatment (applied behavior analysis up to $36,000 annually).
It applies to specified third-party payment provider policies, contracts or plans that are delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in Iowa on or after January 1, 2017. Beginning February 1, 2018, the Insurance Commissioner will submit an annual report to the Legislature on implementation of the coverage. The report must include the number of insureds diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders in the preceding calendar year, the cost of all claims paid out for required coverage, the cost of such coverage per insured per month, and the average cost per insured per month for the required coverage of applied behavior analysis.
[2/25: 41-7 (Behn, Chapman, Chelgren, Costello, Garrett, Rozenboom, Schultz “no”; Dix, Sinclair absent)]
SF 2279 is based on recommendations by the Credit Union Division of the Department of Commerce. The bill includes non-controversial technical changes and updates to reporting and filing timelines. State credit unions and other financial institutions that experience a security breach currently may be subject to the provisions of Code Chapter 715C, which relates to criminal penalties for personal information security breach protection. The bill adds a new section to Code Chapter 533 (Credit Unions) to clearly specify that a state credit union must maintain an information security response program, including notification procedures, in the event of a data breach and in accordance with federal law.
[2/29: 48-0 (Dix, Feenstra absent)]
HF 2277 (SF 2216) amends the definition of “public utility” in Iowa Code 306.46 to include electric transmission owners primarily providing service to public utilities. This public utility may construct, operate, repair or maintain its utility facilities within a public road right-of-way. Iowa Code defines “electric transmission owner” as an individual or entity that owns and maintains electric transmission facilities, including transmission lines, wires or cables that are capable of operating at an electric voltage of 34.5 kilovolts or greater, that are required for rate-regulated electric utilities, municipal electric utilities and rural electric cooperatives in Iowa to provide electric service to the public for compensation.
[2/29: 48-0 (Dix, Feenstra absent)]