HF 2264 (LSB 5411YH (3) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2264

BY  CROKEN, MADISON, KURTH, WILSON, KRESSIG, AMOS JR., BROWN-POWERS, RAMIREZ, WILBURN, LEVIN, SCHOLTEN, WESSEL-KROESCHELL, JAMES, and R. JOHNSON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the minimum per hour wage provided to home health aides under the Medicaid program, and making an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  MEDICAID PROGRAM —— HOME HEALTH AIDES —— MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, the department of health and human services shall continue to base home health agency reimbursement rates on the Medicare low utilization payment adjustment (LUPA) methodology with state geographic wage adjustments, but shall adjust the labor portion and the adjusted wage rate of the LUPA methodology to provide a minimum per hour wage of fifteen dollars and twenty cents for home health aides.
    Sec. 2.  MEDICAID PROGRAM —— HOME HEALTH AIDES MINIMUM HOURLY WAGE —— APPROPRIATION.  There is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the department of health and human services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, a sufficient amount to provide reimbursement under the Medicaid program to home health aides providing home health program services and home and community-based services waiver services at a minimum per hour wage of fifteen dollars and twenty cents as provided in this Act.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill provides that for FY 2026-2027, the department of health and human services (HHS) shall continue to reimburse home health agencies utilizing the Medicare low utilization payment adjustment (LUPA) methodology with state geographic wage adjustments, but shall adjust the labor and adjusted wage rate portions of the LUPA methodology to provide a minimum per hour wage of $15.20 for home health aides.
   The bill also appropriates a sufficient amount from the general fund of the state to HHS for FY 2026-2027 to provide the minimum hourly rate to home health aides under the Medicaid program as specified in the bill.