Iowa License Required to Practice in Iowa 

As of May 17, 2022, any suspensions of Iowa law or rule permitting the practice of medicine in the state of Iowa without an Iowa medical license have expired. An Iowa medical license is therefore required to practice medicine in the State of Iowa from this date forward. Practicing medicine in Iowa without an Iowa medical license, even if licensed in another state, may constitute the unlawful practice of medicine in violation of Iowa Code section 147.2.

If you are a doctor relying on the Governor’s previous emergency proclamations to practice medicine in Iowa, and do not currently have an active Iowa medical license, you must immediately cease your practice in Iowa until you are licensed by the Iowa Board of Medicine.

Resources for Covid-19 Vaccine Providers

The Iowa Department of Public Health is reminding Iowa's enrolled Covid-19 vaccine providers to access and read the weekly Vaccine Information Brief published by the Bureau of Immunizations & Tuberculosis. The Vaccine Information Brief is THE BEST source of information for regular updates impacting Iowa's enrolled vaccine providers. It is important for Iowa's enrolled vaccine providers to monitor frequently updated guidance on Covid-19 vaccine administration from ACIP, CDC, and FDA.  There are two ways to access the Vaccine Information Brief . First, a weekly listserv message (including the Vaccine Information Brief link) is sent to the emails on record for all Iowa enrolled vaccine providers. Second, vaccine providers can find the Vaccine Information Brief at the IDPH Covid-19 Vaccine Providers web page, located under the Resources section. Thank you for your ongoing commitment and efforts to ensure Iowan's are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Update on Ambulatory Surgical Center Law

Effective July 1, 2022, Iowa Code section 147.163 requires a health care provider who determines that a patient is a candidate for outpatient surgery based on the patient's medical status and surgical service needs, and refers the patient to an ambulatory surgical center as an option for the surgery, to provide the patient with a written document listing the factors the patient should consider to make a fully informed decision about the patient's recommended course of care. On July 15, 2022, the Board of Medicine voted to approve this document as compliant with the new law. As the Board continues to work with interested parties on implementation of this law, referring providers may provide patients with this document to comply with the new law.