Meggers
This session, our caucus set out to prioritize supporting Iowa families and particularly making sure we are supporting kids born into tough situations. This week we passed two bills relating to adoption that we believe are common sense policies to improve the lives and ease the burden on adopting families.
House File 248 requires employers to treat employees who have adopted a child 6 years old or younger the same way as those who have had a biological child in regards to their parental leave policies. New parents who have adopted their child deserve to be treated the same as parents who have had a biological child. This legislation ensures all new parents are treated the same by their employers.
House File 314 allows the court to waive a home study requirement in an adoption case if the person applying is the current legal guardian for the adoptee, has been the legal guardian for the proceeding 3 years, and has complied with the duties and responsibilities of a guardian for those 3 years. Waiving the adoption home study in cases where it makes sense and is deemed safe to do so can speed up delays in the process and lower costs for prospective adoptive parents. An adoption home study can range anywhere from $1,000 – $3,000.
On a similar note, we also passed House File 367 this week through the full Iowa House. This bill says that during a Child in Need of Assistance proceeding, the family interaction shall continue unless it poses harm to the child. Specifically, family interaction shall continue in a CINA case, unless the court finds that substantial evidence exists that the family interaction would pose a serious risk of physical or emotional harm to the child.
The purpose of maintaining family interactions is to support the child’s emotional well-being and familial bonds. We want to support family connections while ensuring the safety of the child. This bill passed unanimously through the Iowa House.
Expanding Health Care Access in Iowa
Like every state in the nation, Iowa is dealing with a shortage of doctors and healthcare staff, rising costs of care, and the need to ensure access to quality services in rural and underserved areas of our state.
This week, we passed three pieces of legislation related to health care workforce challenges that address the many different sides of this issue.
House File 516 aims to make it more likely that the health care professionals who are educated and trained in Iowa stay in Iowa to provide care. This bill will do that in the following ways:
Requires the University of Iowa medical school and dental school to have at least 80% of their students be residents in Iowa or enrolled in an Iowa community college prior to acceptance.
Requires the University of Iowa to submit an annual report on the state of residence of each graduate of the medical and dental school in the year immediately following graduation and their residence before acceptance to the program. It also asks for the same information on UIHC medical residents.
Codifies language to require medical residencies at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinic to give priority to applicants that have an Iowa connection. It also requires primary care residencies like family medicine, OB, psych and internal medicine at UIHC to provide the opportunity to participate in a rural rotation.
Requires the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics to offer an interview for the medical residences of some of the most-needed specialties in Iowa to those with an Iowa connection.
This bill focuses our state-funded medical school on making intentional efforts to address the workforce needs of Iowa. Right now, not enough of these graduates are staying here in Iowa to practice.
From 2020 to 2024, 81% of Iowa natives graduating from the state medical school left to do their residency in another state.
In 2024, UIHC residents only remained in Iowa at 44% after completing their program.
The data shows that if you complete medical school and your residency in one state, you’re more likely to stay in that state and practice there.
House File 386 requires the University of Iowa and Des Moines University to study the feasibility of transitioning their programs to three-year programs. I recognize that a three-year program may not make sense for every medical degree. However, there may be some that can be done over three years, saving the student money and getting that provider into the workforce providing care sooner.
Currently in code, there are enhanced penalties for assaulting a person engaged in certain occupations, including “health care providers.” House File 310 expands the definition of health care providers to include anyone working, volunteering, or participating in an educational course in a hospital or nursing home.
Unfortunately, this is a bill that has become increasingly necessary as we’ve heard from providers about more assaults happening on the health care workforce. This is just one thing we can do in the Iowa Legislature to try and ensure the safety of those who are trying to provide care.
If you ever have any questions, feel free to email me at joshua.meggers@legis.iowa.gov or visit my Facebook page at Joshua Meggers for Iowa House. Feel free to come visit me within the Capitol at any time!
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Joshua Meggers, a Republican from Grundy Center, represents District 54 in the Iowa House.
