Termination of Pregnancy
Code of Iowa
- Chapter 144.29A - Termination of Pregnancy Reporting - Legislative Intent
- Chapter 144B - Other reporting requirements
Administrative Rules
- Table of Contents
- Chapter 100 - VR Registries & Reports
Frequently Asked Questions
The bureau has received numerous questions regarding Termination of Pregnancy reporting in Iowa. The responsibility of the Bureau of Health Statistics is to collect the data associated with these types of events as reporting is required by Iowa law. It is important for health care providers in Iowa to have knowledge of these reporting requirements whether or not it affects their patients or practice. Outlined below are Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Termination of Pregnancy reporting requirements.
Termination of Pregnancy Reporting FAQ
Spontaneous Termination of Pregnancy is the occurrence of an unintended termination of pregnancy at any time during the period from conception to 20 weeks gestation and which is not a spontaneous termination of pregnancy at any time during the period from 20 weeks or greater which is reported to the department as a fetal death under Iowa Code chapter 144.
Induced Termination of Pregnancy is the use of any means to terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant with the intent other than to produce a live birth or to remove a dead fetus. "Inducing a termination of pregnancy" includes abortion.
This reporting requirement (144.29A) was first enacted in 1997 and included requirements to report both spontaneous and induced termination of pregnancy events. During the 2017 legislative session, an act was passed (Iowa Code chapter 146B) that required additional data be collected for induced termination of pregnancy events.
It is the responsibility of the Bureau of Health Statistics to collect the reports for termination of pregnancy events as outlined in Iowa Code. All reports are confidential in manner and the data collected on the forms is specified in the code sections.
Iowa Code chapters 144.29A, 146A and 146B include requirements for reporting of spontaneous and induced termination of pregnancy events by health care providers. It is outlined in the code sections what data is to be collected and that the reports are to be filed with the Bureau of Health Statistics. The bureau does not collect any additional data if not required by Iowa Code.
Iowa termination of pregnancy reporting was enacted in 1997, mandating that spontaneous and induced termination of pregnancy events be reported. The legislation outlined the intent and what data was to be collected.
144.29A states "A health care provider who initially identifies and diagnoses a spontaneous termination of pregnancy or who induces a termination of pregnancy shall file with the department a report for each termination within thirty days of the occurrence."
There are two reporting forms listed at the top of this page under the Certificate of Fetal Death heading.
If data is not available in the medical chart or available to the health care provider at the time of reporting, the data is to be reported as Unknown.
A facility may determine the process for reporting termination events to ensure that only one report per event is filed with the Bureau of Health Statistics. This can be done by assigning one individual in the facility to receive a health care provider code, and that one individual is then responsible for completing all the termination reports for health care providers in that facility.
An alternate method of reporting would be for each health care provider within a facility to have a health care provider code, and file one report for each termination that they diagnose.
Health care provider code usage ensures the anonymity of the patient, health care provider and facility. Mandatory reporters who do not have a health care provider code or do not know their health care provider code may call (515) 281-5153 for assistance. The law suggests that mandatory reporters who practice within a hospital, clinic or other health facility authorize only one staff person to complete and mail in termination reports to help ensure confidentiality and that one report per event is filed.
The report tracking number is the only number that connects the paper report to the patient's medical record (MR). This is a number that each facility assigns to connect the patient MR to the report since the intent of the legislature is to maintain confidentiality. The bureau does not know who the patient is, and if there were a need to connect back to the facility and inquire about a report, the report tracking number would be provided so the facility could identify the patient MR. This may be used in cases of induced terminations because the reporting requirements are stricter for that event.
Yes. Reports may be faxed to (515) 281-0479.
No. Reports may be printed on plain white typing paper.
Events that were identified/diagnosed on January 1, 2018 or after need to be reported using the new forms. More guidance will be provided if reporting will be required for older events.