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SF 534

A bill for an act relating to options for long-term care, and making appropriations.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Claire Celsi

Expands Iowa long-term care options by studying and promoting innovative living models (e.g., greenhouse, elder group homes) and updating Medicaid adult day care reimbursement.

Subcommittee: Klimesh, Celsi, and Costello.
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Bill Summary · SF 534

Summary of SF 534 (Introduced March 5, 2025)

SF 534 is a bill focused on expanding options for long-term care in Iowa and making related appropriations. It establishes a study process to evaluate innovative long-term living approaches and outlines targeted action to support nursing facilities and adult day services, including Medicaid reimbursement updates.

Purpose and Intent

  • Improve access to a broad, high-quality, affordable, and cost-effective range of long-term living options for Iowans.
  • Explore innovative and non-traditional care models (e.g., greenhouse systems, adult family homes, elder group homes) and assess how the state can support or expand these approaches.
  • Consider cross-sector collaboration to assist nursing facilities that are not at full occupancy by integrating services from other sectors (child care, adult day care, home health).

Key Provisions

Study Group on Long-Term Living Options

  • The bill creates a study group charged with surveying existing long-term living approaches used in other states and identifying innovative approaches.
  • Specific approaches to review include, but are not limited to:
    • Greenhouse system
    • Adult family homes
    • Elder group homes
  • The study should also examine ways Iowa can support nursing facilities that are not at full occupancy by partnering with other sectors (child care, adult day care, home health services).
  • The study must include how other states have successfully implemented these approaches and how Iowa can encourage development of both existing and innovative options within the state.

Report Requirement

  • The study group must submit a findings and recommendations report to the Governor and the General Assembly no later than December 15, 2025.
  • The report should include:
    • A summary of existing and innovative approaches
    • Examples of successful implementation in other states
    • Recommendations for Iowa to encourage development and adoption of these approaches

Stakeholders and Composition

  • The study group includes representatives or designees from:
    • The Alzheimer's Association Iowa Chapter
    • Disability Rights Iowa
    • Barbara and Richard Csomay Center for Gerontological Excellence (University of Iowa College of Nursing)
    • Gerontology program (Iowa State University)
    • University of Northern Iowa School of Applied Human Sciences
    • Hale Group (President and Vice President)
  • Additional details indicate involvement of the executive directors or designees from the Alzheimer’s Association, Disability Rights Iowa, and related gerontological and gerontology entities.

Medicaid Adult Day Care Reimbursement (Sec. 3)

  • For fiscal year starting July 1, 2025, the bill addresses Medicaid reimbursement rates for adult day care providers who furnish services under the Medicaid home and community-based services framework.
  • Specific rate details are not provided in the available text, but the section signals an adjustment or establishment of reimbursement levels for that fiscal year.

Timeline and Procedural Details

  • Introduced: March 5, 2025.
  • Subcommittee assignment: March 10, 2025 (Subcommittee: Klimesh, Celsi, and Costello).
  • Primary sponsor: CELSI.
  • Status: Subcommittee stage; bill related to long-term care options and related appropriations.

Potential Impact

  • If enacted, SF 534 could expand long-term care options in Iowa by promoting and integrating innovative living arrangements and cross-sector collaborations.
  • It could lead to changes in how nursing facilities manage occupancy and partner with other services (child care, adult day care, home health).
  • Medicaid reimbursement for adult day care providers could affect the financial viability and availability of such services for Medicaid beneficiaries starting in FY 2025.

Who is Affected

  • Long-term care residents and potential residents seeking alternative living arrangements.
  • Nursing facilities and their staff, particularly those experiencing occupancy challenges.
  • Adult day care providers serving Medicaid participants.
  • Stakeholders in aging, disability rights, and gerontology communities, as well as state agencies overseeing health and human services.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize specific sections or provide a comparison with similar bills in other states.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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