Iowa Admin. Code r. 641-88.5

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 11, December 11, 2024

Rule 641-88.5 - Covered health care services

An individual volunteer health care provider holding a current protection agreement with the VHCPP shall be afforded the protection of an employee of the state under Iowa Code chapter 669, and a protected clinic holding a current protection agreement with the VHCPP shall be afforded protection as an agency of the state under Iowa Code chapter 669, only for claims for injury alleged to have been proximately caused by an individual volunteer health care provider's provision of covered health care services or solely on the basis of the individual volunteer health care provider's participation in the sponsor entity or protected clinic.

(1) Covered health care services are only those that are:

a. Identified in the protection agreement with the VHCPP;

b. In compliance with these rules;

c. Provided by or under the direct supervision of the individual volunteer health care provider;

d. Health care services of:

(1) Advanced registered nurse practitioners for: well-child examinations; annual adult examinations; diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions; health education; health maintenance; immunizations; and minor surgical procedures. Certified registered nurse anesthetists may provide anesthesia services for major surgical procedures only if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The surgery is performed in a hospital as defined in Iowa Code section 135B.1(3) or an outpatient surgical facility;

2. The hospital or outpatient surgical facility at which the surgery is performed has executed a sponsor entity agreement;

3. The physician performing the surgery provides or assures the provision of adequate presurgical and postsurgical care, including any follow-up necessary to address postoperative complications; and

4. The physician performing the surgery is an individual specialty health care provider or part of a group of specialty health care providers which has registered with the department as a specialty health care provider office.

(2) Audiologists for: testing, measurement and evaluation related to hearing and hearing disorders and associated communication disorders for the purpose of nonmedically identifying, preventing, modifying or remediating such disorders and conditions including the determination and use of appropriate amplification; patient instruction/counseling; patient habilitation/rehabilitation; and referrals.

(3) Bachelor social workers for: psychosocial assessment and intervention through direct contact with clients; referral to other qualified resources for assistance; performance of social histories; problem identification; establishment of goals and monitoring of progress; interviewing techniques; counseling; social work administration; supervision; evaluation; interdisciplinary consultation and collaboration.

(4) Chiropractors for: examinations; diagnosis and treatment; health education; and health maintenance.

(5) Dental assistants for: intraoral services; extraoral services; infection control; radiography; and removal of plaque or stain by toothbrush, floss, or rubber cup coronal polish.

(6) Dental hygienists for: assessments and screenings; health education; health maintenance; and preventive services (cleaning, X-rays, sealants, fluoride treatments, fluoride varnish).

(7) Dentists for: dental examinations; diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions; health education; health maintenance; and minor surgical procedures.

(8) Emergency medical care providers for: airway/ventilation/oxygenation; assisted medications -patient's; cardiovascular/circulation; immobilization; IV initiation/maintenance/fluids; and medication administration - routes.

(9) Independent social workers for: psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment; performance of psychosocial histories; problem identification; evaluation of symptoms and behavior; assessment of psychosocial and behavioral strengths and weaknesses and effects of the environment on behavior; psychosocial therapy; differential treatment planning; and interdisciplinary consultation.

(10) Licensed practical nurses for: supportive or restorative care.

(11) Marital and family therapists for: marital and family therapy; and application of counseling techniques in the assessment and resolution of emotional conditions.

(12) Master social workers for: psychosocial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment; performance of psychosocial histories; problem identification; evaluation of symptoms and behavior; assessment of psychosocial and behavioral strengths and weaknesses and effects of the environment on behavior; psychosocial therapy; differential treatment planning; and interdisciplinary consultation.

(13) Mental health counselors for: mental health counseling; and counseling services involving assessment, referral and consultation.

(14) Occupational therapists for: evaluation and treatment of problems interfering with functional performance in persons impaired by physical illness or injury, emotional disorder, congenital or developmental disability or the aging process.

(15) Optometrists for: examinations; diagnosis and treatment of the human eye and adnexa; health education; and health maintenance.

(16) Pharmacists for: drug dispensing; patient counseling; health screenings and education; and immunizations.

(17) Physical therapists for: interpretation of performance, tests, and measurements; evaluation and treatment of human capabilities and impairments; use of physical agents, therapeutic exercises, and rehabilitative procedures to prevent, correct, minimize, or alleviate a physical impairment; establishment and modification of physical therapy program; treatment planning; and patient instruction/education.

(18) Physicians and physician assistants for: well-child examinations; annual adult examinations; diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic conditions; health education; health maintenance; immunizations; and minor surgical procedures. Physicians may perform major surgical procedures only if the following conditions are satisfied:

1. The surgery is performed in a hospital as defined in Iowa Code section 135B.1(3) or an outpatient surgical facility;

2. The hospital or outpatient surgical facility at which the surgery is performed has executed a sponsor entity agreement;

3. The physician provides or assures the provision of adequate presurgical and postsurgical care, including any follow-up necessary to address postoperative complications; and

4. The physician performing the surgery is an individual specialty health care provider or part of a group of specialty health care providers which has registered with the department as a specialty health care provider office.

(19) Podiatrists for: examinations; diagnosis and treatment; health education; health maintenance; and minor surgical procedures.

(20) Psychologists for: counseling and the use of psychological remedial measures with persons with adjustment or emotional problems.

(21) Registered nurses for: well-child examinations; annual adult examinations; treatment of acute and chronic conditions; health education; health maintenance; and immunizations.

(22) Respiratory therapists for: diagnostic and therapeutic use of administration of medical gases, aerosols, and humidification, not including general anesthesia; pharmacologic agents relating to respiratory care procedures; bronchopulmonary hygiene; specific diagnostic and testing techniques employed in the medical management of patients to assist in diagnosis, monitoring, treatment, and research of cardiopulmonary abnormalities; and pulmonary function testing.

(23) Speech pathologists for: testing, measurement and evaluation related to the development and disorders of speech, fluency, voice or language for the purpose of nonmedically preventing, ameliorating, modifying or remediating such disorders and conditions; patient instruction/counseling; patient habilitation/rehabilitation; and referrals.

(2) Experimental procedures or procedures and treatments which lack sufficient evidence of clinical effectiveness are excluded from the VHCPP

Iowa Admin. Code r. 641-88.5

ARC 8791B, lAB 6/2/10, effective 7/7/10;ARC 9535B, lAB 6/1/11, effective 5/11/11

Amended by IAB October 9, 2019/Volume XLII, Number 8, effective 11/13/2019