HF 2203: Relating to health care including protections for health care providers against disciplinary actions for acts or omissions related to COVID-19 and to experimental treatments for terminally ill persons, and including effective date provisions

What it does

This bill relates to experimental treatments for terminally ill persons. The bill expands the definition of “eligible patient” to include a person who is receiving mechanical ventilation to prolong life. The bill also expands the definition of an “investigational drug, biological product, or device” to include the off-label use of a drug as defined in the bill. The bill replaces the current required involvement of the patient’s physician or the patient’s treating physician to instead require involvement from a physician or a treating physician to fulfill certain duties. The bill expands protections relating to a private cause of action for certain persons complying in good faith with and exercising reasonable care under the bill. The bill takes effect upon enactment.

Senate subcommittee · named March 8, 2022

• Sen. Mark Costello (R) · mark.costello@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Joe Bolkcom (D)
• Sen. Jesse Green (R) · jesse.green@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 3 against

For: Informed Choice Iowa; Iowans for Medical Marijuana; VALOR Iowa

Against: Iowa Hospital Association; Iowa Independent Physician Group; The Iowa Clinic, P.C.

In plain words

1. February 1, 2022Filed in the House
2. March 2, 2022Passed the House, 62–36
3. March 3, 2022Arrived in the Senate
4. March 8, 2022Senate subcommittee named: Costello, Bolkcom and Green
5. March 9, 2022Subcommittee recommended passing it
6. March 16, 2022Approved by the Senate committee
7. March 24, 2022Sent to the Senate Human Resources committee