Two important bills to health care were signed on May 28th.

Governor Kim Reynolds visited Guthrie County Hospital to sign the two bills. House Representative for District 43 and Health and Human Services Committee Chair Carter Nordman was the floor manager for the governor’s rural health care bill, and shares on the bill itself.

“This bill strengthens Iowa’s healthcare system by significantly increasing residency slots in our teaching hospitals, ensuring more physicians are trained and encouraged to practice here in Iowa. It consolidates and streamlines our rural healthcare loan repayment program while targeting high-need areas across the medical field. And it takes a major step forward in moving towards a hub-and-spoke funding model to establish regional collaboration between healthcare providers in rural areas.”

Another bill that was signed by the governor was House File 310, which adds more protections for health care workers from violence in the workplace. Guthrie County Hospital Chief Executive Officer Cris Kuhns shares his perspective on the help the bills provide.

“These bills offer a number of positive changes, but two intentional pieces are apparent when you look at these bills. Number one, our ability to protect the safety of Iowa’s health care workforce is paramount. And two, sustaining our ability to recruit and retain health care workers in rural Iowa is a priority of this administration.”

Both bills will go into effect on July 1st.