What changed in HF 933
The bill as introduced, compared with the version both chambers passed (91st General Assembly). 2 adopted amendments account for the changes.
4 passages reworded, 7 added and 22 removed; 5 of 38 unchanged.
Removed AddedIntroduced textText as passedAmendments
Compares wording only. The printed bills also mark changes to existing law with strikes and underlines, which aren’t shown here.
Section 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known as “Mason’s Law”.
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2. Section 10A.713, subsection 2, 135C.1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new paragraph: subsection:
NEW PARAGRAPH.
r. Pediatric palliative care centers as defined in section 135J.1.
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3. Section 135J.1, subsection 4, Code 2025, is amended by striking the subsection and inserting in lieu thereof the following:
4. “Hospice patient” or “patient” means an individual who is described by any of the following:
a. The individual has been diagnosed by a physician as terminally ill, with a probable life expectancy of one year or less.
b. The individual is described by all of the following:
NEW SUBSECTION. 16A. “Pediatric palliative care patient” means an individual described by all of the following:
(1) a. The individual is under twenty-one years of age.
(2) b. The individual has been diagnosed with a chronic, complex, life-threatening illness that is expected to shorten the individual’s life expectancy.
(3) c. The individual is not expected to survive past twenty-one years of age.
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3. Section 135C.2, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 5A. The department shall establish a special classification within the residential care facility category for residential care facilities which have the primary purpose of serving pediatric palliative care patients and that only provides respite care services and the services of a hospice program as defined in section 135J.1. A facility within the special classification established pursuant to this subsection shall be exempt from section 10A.713. The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A which shall include but not be limited to all of the following:
4. Section 135J.1, subsection 6, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows:
a. A residential care facility within the special classification established pursuant to this subsection may be referred to as a pediatric palliative care center.
6. “Hospice program” means a centrally coordinated program of home and inpatient care provided directly or through an agreement under the direction of an identifiable hospice administration providing palliative care and supportive medical and other health services to terminally ill patients and their families. A licensed hospice program shall utilize a medically directed interdisciplinary team and provide care to meet the a unit of care’s physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and other special needs which are experienced during the final stages of illness, dying, and bereavement. Hospice care shall be available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
b. A licensed residential care facility within the special classification established pursuant to this subsection shall be eligible for funding available to hospice programs licensed under chapter 135J, and licensed residential care facilities that treat individuals with an illness or disability, including but not limited to funding from the federal social services block grant, the state supplementary assistance program, the hospice respite benefit, home and community-based services waivers, any funding source under chapter 249A, and any benefit a nursing facility may be eligible for related to respite care services.
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5. Section 135J.1, Code 2025, is amended by adding the following new subsection:
NEW SUBSECTION. 8A.
a. “Pediatric palliative care center” means a residential care facility as defined in section 135C.1, that only serves individuals described in subsection 4, paragraph “b”, and that only provides respite care services as defined in section 135C.1, and hospice program services.
b. Notwithstanding section 135C.1, subsection 21, a pediatric palliative care center may provide care and services to individuals who require the services of a registered or licensed practical nurse on a nonemergency basis.
4. EMERGENCY RULES. The department of health and human services may adopt emergency rules under section 17A.4, subsection 3, and section 17A.5, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, to implement the provisions of this Act and the rules shall be effective immediately upon filing unless a later date is specified in the rules. Any rules adopted in accordance with this section shall also be published as a notice of intended action as provided in section 17A.4.
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6. Section 135J.7, Code 2025, is amended to read as follows: 135J.7 Rules. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the The department shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A necessary to implement this chapter. Formulation of the rules shall include consultation The department shall consult with Iowa hospice organization representatives and other persons affected by this chapter. and the rules shall, at a minimum, provide for all of the following:
1. A pediatric palliative care center shall not serve more than twelve hospice patients at any one time.
2. A pediatric palliative care center’s interdisciplinary team may include volunteers who provide a personal presence that augments other services available to a patient admitted to the pediatric palliative care center, the patient’s family, or the patient’s health care provider.
3. A pediatric palliative care center’s rooms may be used for respite care services, end-of-life care, or both.
4. A pediatric palliative care center shall have a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse onsite and available at all times a patient is at the pediatric palliative care center.
5. A pediatric palliative care center shall include adequate space for the family of a patient to visit the patient, cook for and eat with the patient, and stay overnight with the patient while the patient is at the pediatric palliative care center.
6. A pediatric palliative care center shall not be required to provide a patient with items for the patient’s health, safety, or daily living needs, including but not limited to durable medical equipment and medications.
7. Any medication brought by a patient to a pediatric palliative care center as a part of the patient’s medical care plan shall be documented by the pediatric palliative care center, stored in a secure space, administered by the pediatric palliative care center’s staff as directed in the patient’s medical care plan, and returned to the patient upon the patient’s departure or disposed of upon the patient’s death.
8. A pediatric palliative care center shall be eligible for funding available to other licensed residential care facilities and hospice programs that treat individuals with an illness or disability, including but not limited to funding from the federal social services block grant, the state supplementary assistance program, the hospice respite benefit, home and community-based services waivers, any funding source under chapter 249A, and any benefit a nursing facility under chapter 135C may be eligible for related to respite care services.
5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act, being deemed of immediate importance, takes effect upon enactment.