Bills › 91st General Assembly
Relating to subacute mental health care facilities and services, and including effective date provisions
Sponsored by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 27, 2026
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 28, 2026
- Done: Senate committeeFebruary 3, 2026
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 1, 202646–0
- Skipped: House committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the HouseMarch 2, 202689–0
- Done: To the GovernorMay 2, 2026
- Done: Signed into lawMay 2, 2026
HF 2543 became law → The same legislation passed as HF 2543, so this version was set aside. Go to HF 2543 What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill relates to subacute mental health care (SMHC) facilities and services. The bill eliminates the requirement that 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 a subacute care facility to develop an initial treatment care plan with a resident within hours of the resident’s admission to the subacute care facility. The bill requires HHS or the managed care organization responsible for administering an individual’s medical assistance, upon a mental health professional’s request for prior authorization (request) through an internet portal designated by HHS for insurance coverage of the individual’s SMHC service under Code chapter 249A (medical assistance) or 249N (Iowa health and wellness plan), to provide a determination to the mental health professional within hours after the date of the receipt of the request if the request is urgent; within calendar days after the date of the receipt of the request if the request is nonurgent; and within calendar days after the date of the receipt of the request if the request is nonurgent and involves complex or unique circumstances.
Read the full explanation
The bill directs the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing (DIAL) and HHS to collaborate to review each department’s administrative rules and eliminate any rule the departments determine impedes the establishment of new SMHC facilities and services; expansion of existing SMHC facilities and services; or ease of access to SMHC facilities and services. The bill requires HHS and DIAL to modify their respective rules so that the requirements to employ an individual at an SMHC facility are less stringent than those for the same employment at a state mental health institute. The bill takes effect upon enactment.
From the explanation printed with the bill as introduced, written by the Legislative Services Agency. Changed since by amendments S-5145, S-5061; see Amendments. Full bill text · What changed before it passed
Senate subcommittee
Named January 28, 2026 (as SSB 3083). On January 29, 2026 it recommended amendment and passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part
1 written public comment to its subcommittee: January 29, 2026 (1) · on the Legislature’s site
Iowa Code it changes
Creates§135G.3A
Read from the bill as introduced. Each links to every bill touching that chapter of the Iowa Code. How the Code works
Lobbying
10 for · 3 against · 29 undecided · Who →
Family tree
Where this legislation came from and where it went: earlier tries, the versions it moved through this Assembly, and later bills built on it.
Study bill
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