HF 589 (LSB 2778YH (1) 91)

HOUSE FILE 589

BY  YOUNG, GEHLBACH, and ANDREWS

A BILL FOR

An Act creating the compassion and care for medically challenging pregnancies Act.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  135S.1  Title.
   This chapter shall be known as the “Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act”.
    Sec. 2.  NEW SECTION.  135S.2  Definitions.
   For the purposes of this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
   1.  “Department” means the department of health and human services.
   2.  “Health care practitioner” means a physician licensed pursuant to chapter 148, an advanced registered nurse practitioner licensed pursuant to chapter 152, or an advanced practice registered nurse under chapter 152E.
   3.  “Lethal fetal anomaly” means a fetal condition diagnosed before birth that will, with reasonable certainty, result in the death of the child three months after birth.
   4.  “Perinatal hospice service” means comprehensive support to a pregnant woman and her family that includes support from the time of diagnosis of a lethal fetal anomaly, through the time of birth and the death of the infant, and through the postpartum period. “Perinatal hospice services” may include but are not limited to counseling and medical care by maternal-fetal medical specialists, obstetricians, neonatologists, anesthesia specialists, clergy, social workers, and specialty nurses focused on alleviating fear and ensuring that the pregnant woman and her family experience the life and death of the child in a comfortable and supportive environment.
    Sec. 3.  NEW SECTION.  135S.3  Perinatal hospice services —— health care practitioner role —— list and information.
   1.  A health care practitioner who diagnoses a lethal fetal anomaly may do any of the following:
   a.  Inform the pregnant woman, orally and in person, that perinatal hospice services are available and offer to refer the pregnant woman for such services.
   b.  Provide the pregnant woman with the list and information sheet regarding available perinatal hospice services compiled and provided by the department pursuant to subsection 2.
   2.  a.  The department shall compile a geographically organized list of, and an information sheet regarding, perinatal hospice services available in Iowa and nationally.
   b.  The department shall post the list and information sheet compiled under this subsection, available in both English and Spanish, on the department’s internet site.
   c.  The internet site and information sheet shall include all of the following:
   (1)  A statement indicating that perinatal hospice services are an innovative and compassionate model of support for a pregnant woman who is informed that her baby has a lethal fetal anomaly and chooses to continue her pregnancy.
   (2)  A general description of the perinatal hospice services available.
   (3)  At the request of a perinatal hospice service included on the list, the perinatal hospice service’s informational materials and contact information, including whether twenty-four-hour perinatal hospice services are available.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill creates the “Compassion and Care for Medically Challenging Pregnancies Act”.
   The bill provides definitions for “department”, “health care practitioner”, “lethal fetal anomaly”, and “perinatal hospice service” as used in the bill.
   The bill provides that a health care practitioner who diagnoses a lethal fetal anomaly may inform the pregnant woman, orally and in person, that perinatal hospice services are available and offer to refer the pregnant woman for such services; or provide the pregnant woman with the list and information sheet regarding available perinatal hospice services compiled and provided by the department of health and human services (HHS).
   The bill requires HHS to compile a geographically organized list of, and an information sheet regarding, perinatal hospice services available in Iowa and nationally. HHS shall post the list and information sheet, available in both English and Spanish, on HHS’s internet site. The internet site and information sheet shall include a statement indicating that perinatal hospice services are an innovative and compassionate model of support for the pregnant woman who is informed that her baby has a lethal fetal anomaly and chooses to continue her pregnancy; a general description of the perinatal hospice services available; and at the request of a perinatal hospice service included on the list, the perinatal hospice service’s informational materials and contact information, including whether 24-hour perinatal hospice services are available.