HF 2543: Relating to subacute mental health care facilities and services, and including effective date provisions

What it does

This bill relates to mental health care. The bill eliminates the requirement that subacute mental health care (SMHC) must be limited to a period of calendar days unless a longer period of time is adopted by the department of health and human services (HHS). The bill requires an SMHC facility to develop a written treatment care plan with a resident within hours of the resident’s admission to the SMHC facility. The bill prohibits a preauthorization requirement for an individual’s admission to an SMHC facility or for the first consecutive calendar days of a resident’s treatment.

Lobbying · 10 for, 3 against

For: Easterseals Iowa; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Iowa Integrated Health Planning and Advisory Council; Iowa School Counselors Association; Iowa State Association of Counties; Iowa State Sheriffs' & Deputies' Association; Linn County Board of Supervisors; Mental Health America; National Alliance on Mental Illness - Iowa; United Way Quad Cities

Against: Elevance Health, and its Affiliates dba Anthem, Inc.; Federation of Iowa Insurers; Iowa Total Care, A Subsidiary of Centene Corporation

In plain words

1. February 16, 2026Filed in the House
2. March 2, 2026Passed the House, 89–0
3. March 3, 2026Arrived in the Senate
4. April 1, 2026Took the place of SF 2202 on the Senate floor (the same legislation)
5. April 1, 2026Passed the Senate, 46–0
6. April 13, 2026Passed the House, 90–0
7. May 2, 2026Sent to the Governor
8. May 2, 2026Signed into law