HF 2092 (LSB 5381YH (4) 89)

HOUSE FILE 2092

BY  BODEN

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to physicians providing services relating to child abuse assessments.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 232.71B, subsection 10, Code 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   10.  Physical examination.
   a.  If the department refers a child to a physician for a physical examination, the department shall contact the physician regarding the examination within twenty-four hours of making the referral. If the physician who performs the examination upon referral by the department reasonably believes the child has been abused, the physician shall report to the department within twenty-four hours of performing the examination.
   b.  The department shall only contract with a physician for services in relation to a child abuse assessment if the physician verifies the physician has the ability to obtain consultations with other physicians, including but not limited to radiologists, geneticists, and endocrinologists, who have expertise in identifying unique health conditions including but not limited to all of the following:
   (1)  Rickets.
   (2)  Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
   (3)  Osteogenesis imperfecta.
   (4)  Vitamin “D” deficiency.
   (5)  Any other metabolic bone disease or connective tissue disorder.
   c.  If, during a child abuse assessment, there is disagreement between two or more physicians about a child’s injuries or the presence of a condition listed in paragraph “b”, each physician must agree to a blind peer review process to resolve the disagreement.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to physicians providing services relating to child abuse assessments.
   The bill provides that the department of human services shall only contract with a physician for services in relation to a child abuse assessment if the physician verifies the physician has the ability to obtain consultations with other physicians, including but not limited to radiologists, geneticists, and endocrinologists, who have expertise in identifying unique health conditions including but not limited to rickets; Ehlers-Danlos syndrome; osteogenesis imperfecta; a vitamin “D” deficiency; and other metabolic bone diseases or connective tissue disorders.
   The bill requires physicians, during a child abuse assessment, to agree to a blind peer review process to resolve any disagreement between two or more physicians about a child’s injuries or the presence of a certain condition.