House File 887 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 887 BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (SUCCESSOR TO HF 277) A BILL FOR An Act removing birth centers from the meaning of institutional 1 health facility. 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 3 TLSB 2521HV (1) 91 dg/ko
H.F. 887 Section 1. Section 10A.711, subsection 3, Code 2025, is 1 amended by striking the subsection. 2 Sec. 2. Section 10A.711, subsection 13, paragraph f, Code 3 2025, is amended by striking the paragraph. 4 Sec. 3. Section 135.119, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 5 2025, is amended by striking the paragraph. 6 Sec. 4. Section 135.131, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 7 2025, is amended to read as follows: 8 a. Birth center means birth center as defined in section 9 10A.711 a facility or institution, which is not an ambulatory 10 surgical center or a hospital or in a hospital, in which 11 births are planned to occur following a normal, uncomplicated, 12 low-risk pregnancy . 13 Sec. 5. Section 135P.1, subsection 3, Code 2025, is amended 14 to read as follows: 15 3. Health facility means an institutional health facility 16 as defined in section 10A.711 , a birth center as defined in 17 section 135.131, a hospice licensed under chapter 135J , a 18 home health agency as defined in section 144D.1 , an assisted 19 living program certified under chapter 231C , a clinic, a 20 community health center, or the university of Iowa hospitals 21 and clinics, and includes any corporation, professional 22 corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited 23 liability partnership, or other entity comprised of such health 24 facilities. 25 EXPLANATION 26 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 27 the explanations substance by the members of the general assembly. 28 This bill removes birth centers from the meaning of 29 institutional health facility (facility). Under current 30 law, certain health care providers are required to obtain a 31 certificate of need (CON) from the department of inspections, 32 appeals, and licensing prior to creating or expanding a 33 facility or introducing certain medical services within a 34 specific area. By operation of law, removing birth centers 35 -1- LSB 2521HV (1) 91 dg/ko 1/ 2
H.F. 887 from the meaning of facility would allow health care providers 1 to create, relocate, expand, or offer new services in birth 2 centers without the need to obtain a CON. 3 The bill makes conforming changes to Code sections 10A.711 4 (health facilities council definitions), 135.119 (shaken 5 baby syndrome prevention program), 135.131 (universal newborn 6 and infant hearing screening), and 135P.1 (adverse health care 7 incidents communication confidentiality). 8 -2- LSB 2521HV (1) 91 dg/ko 2/ 2