HF 607 (LSB 2172YH (2) 91)

HOUSE FILE 607

BY  KONFRST, R. JOHNSON, MADISON, BAGNIEWSKI, CROKEN, KRESSIG, ZABNER, WILSON, BAETH, AMOS JR., KURTH, BROWN-POWERS, WILBURN, SRINIVAS, McBURNEY, B. MEYER, MATSON, WICHTENDAHL, GOSA, JUDGE, COOLING, EHLERT, and OLSON

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to eligibility of pregnant women and infants for the Medicaid program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  Section 249A.3, subsection 1, paragraph l, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
   l.  (1)  Is an infant whose family income is not more than two three hundred fifteen seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level, as defined by the most recently revised income guidelines published by the United States department of health and human services.
   (2)  Is a pregnant woman whose family income while pregnant is at or below two three hundred fifteen seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level, as defined by the most recently revised poverty income guidelines published by the United States department of health and human services, if otherwise eligible.
    Sec. 2.  MEDICAID —— PREGNANT WOMEN —— CONTINUOUS POSTPARTUM COVERAGE —— STATE PLAN AMENDMENTS.  The department of health and human services shall submit a Medicaid state plan amendment to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United States department of health and human services for approval in accordance with sections 9812 and 9822 of the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2, as amended by section 5113 of the federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, to provide twelve months of continuous postpartum eligibility under the Medicaid program to a pregnant woman whose family income while pregnant is at or below three hundred seventy-five percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, beginning January 1, 2026. The department of health and human services shall also submit a children’s health insurance program state plan amendment to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United States department of health and human services to update infant eligibility consistent with the provisions of this Act, beginning January 1, 2026.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill amends provisions relating to income eligibility levels for pregnant women and infants under the Medicaid program.
   Current law provides that an infant or a pregnant woman whose family income is not more than 215 percent of the federal poverty level, if the infant or woman is otherwise eligible, is eligible for Medicaid. The bill amends the income eligibility level to 375 percent.
   The bill requires the department of health and human services (HHS) to submit a Medicaid state plan amendment to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United States department of health and human services (CMS) for approval in accordance with the provisions in federal law to provide 12 months of continuous postpartum eligibility under the Medicaid program to a pregnant woman whose family income while pregnant is at or below 375 percent of the federal poverty level for the household size, beginning January 1, 2026. The bill also requires HHS to submit a children’s health insurance program state plan amendment to CMS to update infant eligibility consistent with the provisions of the bill, beginning January 1, 2026.