Governor Reynolds has long prioritized policies that improve health care for Iowans of all ages and in every community. Her investments have contributed to Iowa’s ranking as the top state for health care affordability and one of the top five states for best health care system. With an infusion of federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program—$209 million in year one alone—the state will build on its strong foundation by executing its innovative Healthy Hometowns plan to make rural health care more accessible, connected, and patient-focused.
The Governor also committed $1 million for cancer research last year to better understand what’s driving Iowa’s high cancer rates. The project launched in July 2025 and will conclude in June 2026. In the meantime, Healthy Hometowns will invest more than $50 million for cancer prevention, screening, and treatment this year.
In addition, Governor Reynolds is focused on legislative priorities that promote healthy behaviors and access to care.
Governor Reynolds Proposes:
- Requiring a Continuing Medical Education Nutrition Course for physicians to maintain their Iowa medical licenses.
- Requiring Iowa HHS to seek a waiver for Healthy SNAP and Healthy Summer EBT purchases.
- Prohibiting public schools and public charter schools from providing foods or beverages during the school day that contain certain dyes and additives: Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, potassium bromate, and propylparaben.
- Allowing psychologists licensed in other states to practice in Iowa.
- Eliminating the Certificate of Need requirement for outpatient behavioral health.
- Allowing human-use ivermectin to be sold over the counter without a prescription.
- Allowing pharmacists to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives to women 18 years and older without a prescription.
- Allowing Iowa to seek a waiver from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a state-based health insurance exchange.
