Relating to the hearing aids and audiologic services funding program, and including effective date provisions

This bill relates to the hearing aids and audio logic services funding program. The bill is divided into two divisions. The first division of the bill prohibits the Iowa department of public health (department) from entering into a contract with a third party to administer the hearing aids and audiologic services funding program (program). The department shall adopt rules to administer the program within the department, including but not limited to the administration of the application process, the determination of applicants’ eligibility, the enrollment of eligible applicants into the program, the maintenance of the program waitlist, and the reimbursement of providers. The second division of the bill provides that the $156,000 appropriated for fiscal year 2021-2022 to be used to provide audiological services and hearing aids for children that remains unencumbered or unobligated at the close of the fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available until the close of the succeeding fiscal year. The amount of money that does not revert shall be reported annually by the department to the general assembly. This division of the bill takes effect upon enactment.