HF 2491 (LSB 5171HV (3) 89)

HOUSE FILE 2491

BY  COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES

(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2188)

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the hearing aids and audiologic services funding program, and including effective date provisions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

DIVISION I
HEARING AIDS AND AUDIOLOGIC SERVICES FUNDING PROGRAM —— ADMINISTRATION

    Section 1.  HEARING AID AND AUDIOLOGIC SERVICES FUNDING PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.  The Iowa department of public health shall not enter into a contract with a third party to administer the hearing aids and audiologic services funding program and shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A to administer the program within the department, including but not limited to the administration of the application process, the determination of applicants’ eligibility, the enrollment of eligible applicants into the program, the maintenance of the hearing aids and audiologic services funding waitlist, and the reimbursement of providers.
DIVISION II
HEARING AIDS AND AUDIOLOGIC SERVICES FUNDING PROGRAM —— FY 2021-2022 NONREVERSION

    Sec. 2.  2021 Iowa Acts, chapter 182, section 3, subsection 2, paragraph e, is amended to read as follows:
   e.  Of the funds appropriated in this subsection, $156,000 shall be used to provide audiological services and hearing aids for children. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys appropriated in this paragraph that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purposes designated until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. The amount of money that does not revert shall be reported annually by the department to the general assembly.
    Sec. 3.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This division of this Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.
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 the hearing aids and audio logic services funding program. The bill is divided into two divisions. The first division of the bill prohibits the Iowa department of public health (department) from entering into a contract with a third party to administer the hearing aids and audiologic services funding program (program). The department shall adopt rules to administer the program within the department, including but not limited to the administration of the application process, the determination of applicants’ eligibility, the enrollment of eligible applicants into the program, the maintenance of the program waitlist, and the reimbursement of providers.
   The second division of the bill provides that the $156,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2021-2022 to be used to provide audiological services and hearing aids for children that remains unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. The amount of money that does not revert shall be reported annually by the department to the general assembly. This division of the bill takes effect upon enactment.