SF 52 (LSB 1489XS (4) 90)

SENATE FILE 52

BY  PETERSEN, CELSI, DOTZLER, JOCHUM, T. TAYLOR, KNOX, TRONE GARRIOTT, BENNETT, WEINER, WINCKLER, BISIGNANO, and WAHLS

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to evidence-based maternal and infant home visiting services.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  EVIDENCE-BASED MATERNAL AND INFANT HOME VISITING SERVICES.  The department of health and human services shall engage in a cross-agency collaboration with the department of education to identify and leverage funding sources and opportunities, including Medicaid, to expand evidence-based home visiting services for women and infants that promote healthy pregnancies, positive birth outcomes, and healthy infant growth and development. The departments shall involve key stakeholders in designing an evidence-based home visiting services approach for the state that maximizes the coordination and integration of programs and funding streams, reduces duplication of efforts, and ensures that the services provided meet federal evidence-based criteria. The approach shall ensure that evidence-based home visiting services shall be available to women prenatally, throughout the pregnancy, and postpartum, and shall include mental and physical health, social, educational, and other services and interventions based upon the risk factors and needs identified. The departments may conduct a feasibility study to consider the various options available to increase Medicaid coverage and funding of evidence-based home visiting services, either through a state plan amendment or waiver. The department of health and human services shall seek federal approval of any Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver necessary to administer this section.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the department of health and human services to engage in a cross-agency collaboration with the department of education to identify and leverage funding sources and opportunities, including Medicaid, to expand evidence-based home visiting services for women and infants that promote healthy pregnancies, positive birth outcomes, and healthy infant growth and development. The departments shall involve key stakeholders in designing an evidence-based home visiting services approach for the state. Evidence-based home visiting services shall be available to women prenatally, throughout the pregnancy, and postpartum, and shall include mental and physical health, social, educational, and other services and interventions based upon the risk factors and needs identified. The departments may conduct a feasibility study to consider the various options available to increase Medicaid coverage and funding of evidence-based home visiting services, either through a state plan amendment or waiver. The department of health and human services shall seek federal approval of any Medicaid state plan amendment or waiver necessary to administer the bill.