Senate File 559 - Introduced SENATE FILE 559 BY TRONE GARRIOTT , DONAHUE , PETERSEN , ZIMMER , and WAHLS A BILL FOR An Act relating to speech language pathologist assistants and 1 the medical assistance program, and including effective date 2 provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2752XS (5) 91 lh/ko

S.F. 559 Section 1. Section 249A.15B, Code 2025, is amended to read 1 as follows: 2 249A.15B Speech pathologists and speech language pathologist 3 assistants eligible for payment. 4 1. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 5 17A entitling speech pathologists who are licensed pursuant 6 to chapter 154F , including those certified in independent 7 practice, to payment for speech pathology services provided 8 to recipients of medical assistance, subject to limitations 9 and exclusions the department finds necessary on the basis of 10 federal laws and regulations. 11 2. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 12 17A that permit a speech language pathologist assistant who 13 practices under a speech pathologist licensed pursuant to 14 chapter 154F to be reimbursed for speech language pathology 15 assistant services provided to recipients under the medical 16 assistance program, subject to limitations and exclusions the 17 department finds necessary on the basis of federal laws and 18 regulations. 19 Sec. 2. MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM —— SPEECH LANGUAGE 20 PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANTS. The department of health and human 21 services shall submit any federal waiver or amendment to the 22 centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United States 23 department of health and human services to include speech 24 language pathologist assistants who practice under a licensed 25 speech pathologist to participate as a provider under the 26 medical assistance program. 27 Sec. 3. CONTINGENT EFFECTIVE DATE. The following takes 28 effect upon the department of health and human services’ 29 receipt of federal approval to allow speech language 30 pathologist assistants to participate as a provider under the 31 medical assistance program: 32 The section of this Act amending section 249A.15B. 33 EXPLANATION 34 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 35 -1- LSB 2752XS (5) 91 lh/ko 1/ 2

S.F. 559 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 1 This bill directs the department of health and human 2 services (HHS) to adopt rules that permit a speech language 3 pathologist assistant practicing under a licensed speech 4 pathologist to be reimbursed for speech language pathologist 5 assistant services provided to recipients of the medical 6 assistance program, subject to limitations and exclusions 7 HHS finds necessary. The bill also directs HHS to submit 8 any necessary federal waiver or amendment for the medical 9 assistance program to include a speech language pathologist 10 assistant practicing under a licensed speech pathologist to 11 participate as a provider under the medical assistance program. 12 HHS shall include speech language pathologist assistants as 13 providers under the medical assistance program upon HHS’s 14 receipt of federal approval. 15 -2- LSB 2752XS (5) 91 lh/ko 2/ 2