Health and Human Services
Runs Medicaid, food assistance, child welfare and public health programs, and the state’s mental health and disability services. It was formed by joining the Departments of Human Services and Public Health, and later took in aging and human rights programs.
Who leads it
Director · Appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate.
Official website
General Fund, FY27 est.
$2.70B
Its budget over time
General Fund appropriations by fiscal year1. Before the merger, the figures include the old Department of Public Health, Department on Aging and Department of Human Rights, so years can be compared.
$2.70B
| Fiscal year | General Fund |
|---|---|
| FY27 est. | $2.70B |
| FY26 | $2.69B |
| FY25 | $2.35B |
| FY24 | $2.25B |
| FY23 | $2.19B |
| FY22 | $2.09B |
| FY21 | $1.98B |
| FY20 | $2.02B |
| FY19 | $1.96B |
| FY18 | $1.75B |
| FY17 | $1.78B |
| FY16 | $1.89B |
| FY15 | $1.89B |
Show the numbers
| Fiscal year | General Fund |
|---|---|
| FY27 est. | $2.70B |
| FY26 | $2.69B |
| FY25 | $2.35B |
| FY24 | $2.25B |
| FY23 | $2.19B |
| FY22 | $2.09B |
| FY21 | $1.98B |
| FY20 | $2.02B |
| FY19 | $1.96B |
| FY18 | $1.75B |
| FY17 | $1.78B |
| FY16 | $1.89B |
| FY15 | $1.89B |
Bills that would change its laws
Recent bills that add to, rewrite or repeal the Iowa Code chapters it mainly carries out2: chapter 217, chapter 135, chapter 249A, chapter 231.
- HF 2782Relating to and making appropriations to the department of veterans affairs and the department of health and human services, including aging and disability services, behavioral health, public health, and community access and eligibility; the medical assistance program, state supplementary assistance, Hawki, and other health-related programs; family well-being and protection; state-operated specialty care; administration and compliance; transfers, cash flow, and nonreversions; report on nonreversion of moneys; more options for maternal support program; reimbursement rates review; mental diseases exclusion waiver; full-time equivalent dashboard; comprehensive family support program; federal community mental health services block grant; behavioral health expenditure report; opioid settlement fund; emergency rules; graduate medical education; and special population nursing facilities; and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisionsSigned with item vetoes
- SF 2488Relating to early childhood and family services, including the creation of an early childhood and family services system, making appropriations, convening an early childhood Iowa interim study committee, and including applicability, retroactive applicability, and effective date provisionsSigned by Governor
- SF 2483Relating to and making appropriations to the department of veterans affairs and the department of health and human services, including aging and disability services, behavioral health, public health, and community access and eligibility; the medical assistance program, state supplementary assistance, Hawki, and other health-related programs; family well-being and protection; state-operated specialty care; administration and compliance; prior appropriations; child welfare and juvenile justice decategorization; commitment or hospitalization of certain persons with mental illness or substance abuse disorders; child abuse prevention; creation of a comprehensive family support program; and repeal of expenditure projections for state child care assistance and adoption subsidy programs; and including effective date and retroactive applicability provisionsWithdrawn
- HF 2758Providing a standing appropriation to the state board of regents for pediatric cancer research at the university of Iowa hospitals and clinicsDied when the session ended
- HF 2743Creating the Iowa rural health transformation fund and making appropriationsDied when the session ended
- HF 2739Relating to state finances by modifying the taxes imposed on health maintenance organizations, making transfers from the taxpayer relief fund, making and supplementing appropriations to the department of health and human services, and including effective date, contingent effective date, and retroactive applicability provisions. Contingent effective date, effective 03/25/2026. Applicability date: 01/01/2026Signed by Governor
- HF 2738Establishing a state-based health insurance subsidy, and making an appropriationDied when the session ended
- SF 2464Relating to state finances by modifying the taxes imposed on health maintenance organizations, making transfers from the taxpayer relief fund, making and supplementing appropriations to the department of health and human services, and including effective date, contingent effective date, and retroactive applicability provisionsWithdrawn
- SF 2462Relating to early childhood and family services, including the creation of an early childhood and family services system, state child care assistance for the child care workforce, making appropriations, and including effective date provisionsRenumbered as SF 2488
- HF 2722Relating to an indoor mold information and public awareness program, and establishing a mold remediation standard of careDied when the session ended
- SF 2459Relating to the certificate of need processDied when the session ended
- HF 2716Relating to the supplemental nutrition assistance program; the medical assistance program; the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children; and other public assistance programs under the purview of the department of health and human servicesDied when the session ended