Bills › 91st General Assembly

HF 219Died when the session ended · February 6, 2025

Relating to the duties of insurers under medical malpractice insurance policies

Sponsored by Rep. Brian K. Lohse (R)

Topics:Health careInsurance

Same legislation: SF 13

Where it is now

  1. Done: IntroducedJanuary 13, 2025
  2. Stopped: SubcommitteeDied when the General Assembly ended
  3. Next: House committeeFunnel: by February 20, 2026
  4. Next: Passes the House
  5. Next: Senate committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
  6. Next: Passes the Senate
  7. Next: To the Governor
  8. Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary Insurance companies that cover doctors against mistakes must try their best to settle claims fairly. If a person offers to settle for the amount covered by the insurance policy and the company refuses, the company must pay the entire court judgment even if it goes over the policy limit. Doctors can sue their insurance company if the company fails to follow these rules.1

Read the official explanation

This bill provides that an insurance company insuring a health care provider against professional negligence shall negotiate in good faith all claims presented to the provider. If a claimant offers to settle within the policy limits and the insurer refuses or declines the offer and the claim proceeds to judgment in excess of the policy limit, the insurance company is liable for the full amount regardless of policy limitation. The insurance company has a duty to negotiate a settlement within policy limits if an offer has been made by the claimant at or within the policy limits. If the insurance company fails to do so, the health care provider has a cause of action against the insurance company.

Full bill text2

Iowa Code it changes

Creates§507B.4D

How the Code works3

Lobbying

3 for · 1 against · 13 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.

  • SF 430 Relating to the duties of insurers under medical malpractice insurance policies
    90th General Assembly · In committee · same title
    Cleared committee

Matched by wording or an identical title.