The Medicare open enrollment period (OEP) is coming up from October 15- December 7. This is the annual opportunity for all Medicare beneficiaries to review their Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription plan changes for the year ahead and compare options for enrollment starting January 1.
For more information, please go to Iowa HHS Open Enrollment Period.
On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Iowa HHS posted a Public Notice regarding the 1915 (c) Home and Community Based Services AIDS/HIV, Brain Injury (BI), Children’s Mental Health (CMH), Elderly, Health and Disability (HD), Intellectual Disabilities (ID), and Physical Disability (PD) Waivers. Please see the HHS website for more information.
Several code changes took place on January 1, 2026 related to HCBS Waiver. Please see the Desk Resource HCBS Waiver Service code updates for more information.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released the updated Iowa Olmstead Plan, which provides a strategic framework to expand opportunities, improve service access, and enhance the quality of life for Iowans with disabilities.
The updated plan outlines how state agencies, local governments, and community organizations can work together to build a more coordinated and inclusive system of support. Through an emphasis on collaboration, the Olmstead Plan reaffirms Iowa’s commitment to ensuring that individuals with disabilities have the ability to live, work, and participate fully in their communities.
The plan identifies several Olmstead Progress Areas that guide this work, including strengthening community-based services, expanding independent living opportunities, improving access to housing and transportation, and supporting employment and wellness initiatives. These priorities reinforce Iowa’s dedication to advancing integration and promoting meaningful choice for individuals with disabilities.
You may access the plan and related materials using the links below:
2026 Olmstead Plan Summary & Resource Documents
Olmstead Plan and Stakeholder Engagement | Health & Human Services
Some Iowans may lose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program coverage starting November 1. If this affects you, here are some resources to help: Visit the Iowa HHS Emergency Food Assistance page and use the Food Bank Service Area map and resources to find food banks and mobile pantries in your county.
Visit 2-1-1 Iowa to search for local food pantries or mobile food pantries by entering your ZIP code.
DoorDash Emergency Food Response Program is waiving delivery and service fees for eligible SNAP customers from participating grocery stores.
There will be no more “self-employed” CDAC providers registering with HHS as of December 31, 2025. CDAC is Consumer Directed Attendant Care and is the service of in-home Personal Care. CDAC is a service covered by all HCBS waivers except the Children’s Mental Health waiver. CCO will remain an option as will “agency” CDAC for the waivers that currently offer CDAC.
For more information, visit Individual Consumer Directed Attendant Care (ICDAC) Transition | Health & Human Services
Iowa Insurance Division Press Release October 15, 2026
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Prescription Plans opened October 15, 2026, and runs through December 7, 2026. Ahead of this year’s enrollment window, more than 87,000 Iowa Medicare beneficiaries received notice that their current Medicare plan is being canceled or discontinued in their county. To view the complete Press Release, click here.