(3/17/22) Medical Privacy and Freedom Act was never brought forward to be debated as a stand-alone bill. What does this mean and what do Iowans do now?
(3/16/22) HF2139- The bill the amended medical privacy and freedom language was added to (wreckage/salvage bill with trucker tort reform amended on) goes to the floor for debate.
(Update: The motion to suspend the rules to consider the amendment did not succeed so the bill was deferred).
(3/15/22) Musical chairs…. And we’re still in the game!
The language from medical privacy and freedom has now been moved to another bill that could possibly go to the floor tomorrow or Thursday AND the language is FINALLY PUBLIC!
If you compare this to the amendment on the first bill HF2179 (medical malpractice/unemployment) it has dramatically improved in some areas while still not being exactly what we all set out to do. Unfortunately this is politics and even though we don’t like it we understand we won’t always get everything we want That being said there are some things that will be good for Iowans comparatively.
Be praying for discernment for our legislators tonight. H-8137 is the amendment with our language and it is in Division 2 of SF2139 which also includes trucker tort reform. We will be able to provide more details/assessments tomorrow.
We have been grateful to work with the Majority Leader in the Iowa House on improving this language and it was the people’s voices that truly got us this far! A seat at the table amending a bill to make it better for Iowans! We would have loved to see this bill have its own stand alone debate given the magnitude of this issue and it’s effect on all Iowans but we are pleased with the progress. Stay tuned tomorrow for further updates!
The Medical Privacy and Freedom Act did not go to the floor on 3/8/22. If it does, it will be under HF2279. (To view bill + amendment, it is lower on this page.)
This bill goes to the FLOOR Tuesday 3/8 so get in those phone calls and emails now!!!!
Remember the Passport Ban Bill from last May??
Yeah…. It’s back. The Medical Privacy and Freedom Bill is essentially Passport Ban Bill 3.0.
We are sad to report that the Medical Privacy and Freedom Bill has been altered and is now barely recognizable. We understand that there is a refining process and have made it clear we’d be happy to talk about concerns and amendments. However, there isn’t a shred of protection left for Iowans and it is appalling.
We are sad to report that it has been added to a mega bill and many of the pillars, which would have provided much needed protection for Iowans, isn’t there:
-Employers can still ask for and store health information -There’s no teeth or protection against discrimination (i.e. it is just a fine if they fire someone based on vaccination status but no enforcement on anything else)
More details to come on those specifics but to say we are disappointed in the extreme alterations is a massive understatement.
After what Iowans have been through and the massive amount of in-person efforts at rallies and protests, after all the phone calls made and emails sent to elected officials... Iowans’ freedoms are being neglected, compromised, and treated as a bartering chip trading a tiny amount of freedom on one issue by removing our freedom on another.
The best course of action at this point is to call House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl and Speaker Pat Grassley and tell them Iowans deserve better!!! They should pull the bill and do it right!!!
Call your House Representative and tell them and ask them to vote no, and to do it right!
Capitol phone: 515-281-3221
This bill goes to the FLOOR Tuesday 3/8 so get in those phone calls and emails now!!!!
The Medical Privacy and Freedom Act (HF2545) passed the Iowa House State Government Committee on 2/16/22 on a party line vote!
The next hurdle is passing the Iowa House Floor prior to the second funnel deadline on March 18!
CONGRATULATIONS IOWANS! LETS CONTINUE TO KEEP UP THE PRESSURE AND MOMENTUM TO RESTORE OUR RIGHTS!
What do we do now?
Please email the entire house, share your stories of discrimination, denial of service, getting fired, etc. with them and ask them to support the bill as a STAND ALONE BILL! Leadership is discussing adding this bill to another that is not at all aligned with the best interest of Iowans. Tell Leadership NO, we are not Washington DC. Iowans want this bill on its OWN! Iowans' rights are NOT FOR SALE!
Subject line for email: Support HF2545 Medical Privacy and Freedom Act
When talking in person or via email with your legislator: -If you are a constituent begin with that. -Briefly in a few sentences share your story of how your privacy has been violated by having to disclose private health or religious information. -Briefly, share your story of discrimination that you have experienced because of that information. -Inform them of why you would like to see this bill pass and ask for their support. -Share with them any helpful information that you feel may aid in their decision. -Tell leadership (Senate, House, Governors office) that Iowans want this bill as a stand alone bill! -Put your name and town you reside at the end.
Entire House:
megan.jones@legis.iowa.gov
dennis.bush@legis.iowa.gov
skyler.wheeler@legis.iowa.gov
tom.jeneary@legis.iowa.gov
jacob.bossman@legis.iowa.gov
henry.stone@legis.iowa.gov
terry.baxter@legis.iowa.gov
ann.meyer@legis.iowa.gov
mike.sexton@legis.iowa.gov
gary.worthan@legis.iowa.gov
brian.best@legis.iowa.gov
chris.hall@legis.iowa.gov
steve.hansen@legis.iowa.gov
charlie.mcconkey@legis.iowa.gov
Brent.siegrist@legis.iowa.gov
matt.windschitl@legis.iowa.gov
steven.holt@legis.iowa.gov
carter.nordman@legis.iowa.gov
ray.sorensen@legis.iowa.gov
tom.moore@legis.iowa.gov
jon.jacobsen@legis.iowa.gov
david.sieck@legis.iowa.gov
cecil.dolecheck@legis.iowa.gov
stan.gustafson@legis.iowa.gov
brooke.boden@legis.iowa.gov
joel.fry@legis.iowa.gov
jon.thorup@legis.iowa.gov
jon.dunwell@legis.iowa.gov
brian.lohse@legis.iowa.gov
rick.olson@legis.iowa.gov
ruthann.gaines@legis.iowa.gov
brian.meyer@legis.iowa.gov
bruce.hunter@legis.iowa.gov
ako.abdul-samad@legis.iowa.gov
marti.anderson@legis.iowa.gov
mike.bousselot@legis.iowa.gov
garrett.gobble@legis.iowa.gov
eddie.andrews@legis.iowa.gov
john.forbes@legis.iowa.gov
jo.oldson@legis.iowa.gov
kristin.sunde@legis.iowa.gov
jennifer.konfrst@legis.iowa.gov
kenan.judge@legis.iowa.gov
beth.wessel-kroeschell@legis.iowa.gov
Ross.Wilburn@legis.iowa.gov
phil.thompson@legis.iowa.gov
rob.bacon@legis.iowa.gov
dave.deyoe@legis.iowa.gov
pat.grassley@legis.iowa.gov
jane.bloomingdale@legis.iowa.gov
todd.prichard@legis.iowa.gov
sharon.steckman@legis.iowa.gov
shannon.latham@legis.iowa.gov
michael.bergan@legis.iowa.gov
anne.osmundson@legis.iowa.gov
shannon.lundgren@legis.iowa.gov
steven.bradley@legis.iowa.gov
bob.kressig@legis.iowa.gov
dave.williams@legis.iowa.gov
timi.brown-powers@legis.iowa.gov
ras.smith@legis.iowa.gov
sandy.salmon@legis.iowa.gov
chad.ingels@legis.iowa.gov
liz.bennett@legis.iowa.gov
art.staed@legis.iowa.gov
eric.gjerde@legis.iowa.gov
molly.donahue@legis.iowa.gov
kirsten.running-marquardt@legis.iowa.gov
tracy.ehlert@legis.iowa.gov
sue.cahill@legis.iowa.gov
dean.fisher@legis.iowa.gov
bobby.kaufmann@legis.iowa.gov
david.jacoby@legis.iowa.gov
Thomas.Gerhold@legis.iowa.gov
dave.maxwell@legis.iowa.gov
amy.nielsen@legis.iowa.gov
jarad.klein@legis.iowa.gov
Dustin.hite@legis.iowa.gov
holly.brink@legis.iowa.gov
Cherielynn.Westrich@legis.iowa.gov
jeff.shipley@legis.iowa.gov
Martin.Graber@legis.iowa.gov
joe.mitchell@legis.iowa.gov
Christina.Bohannan@legis.iowa.gov
mary.mascher@legis.iowa.gov
dennis.cohoon@legis.iowa.gov
david.kerr@legis.iowa.gov
monica.kurth@legis.iowa.gov
cindy.winckler@legis.iowa.gov
Mark.Cisneros@legis.iowa.gov
ross.paustian@legis.iowa.gov
phyllis.thede@legis.iowa.gov
gary.mohr@legis.iowa.gov
Charlie.McClintock@legis.iowa.gov
lee.hein@legis.iowa.gov
norlin.mommsen@legis.iowa.gov
mary.wolfe@legis.iowa.gov
lindsay.james@legis.iowa.gov
charles.isenhart@legis.iowa.gov
Medical Privacy And Freedom Act Call To Action:
Sponsored by the House State Government Committee- Chairman Bobby Kaufmann
Chaired by: Reps. Jon Jacobsen and Mark Cisneros
To read full bill:
Additional talking points below. Save + take with you to the Capitol!
Comments