SF 2202: Relating to subacute mental health care facilities and services, and including effective date provisions

What it does

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.

Senate subcommittee · named January 28, 2026

• Sen. Kara Warme (R) · kara.warme@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Janet Petersen (D) · janet.petersen@legis.iowa.gov
• Sen. Scott Webster (R) · scott.webster@legis.iowa.gov

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. January 27, 2026Filed in the Senate and sent to the Health and Human Services committee · as SSB 3083
2. January 28, 2026Senate subcommittee named: Warme, Petersen and Webster · as SSB 3083
3. January 29, 2026Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes · as SSB 3083
4. February 3, 2026Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 2202 · as SSB 3083
5. February 5, 2026Filed in the Senate
6. February 5, 2026Approved by the Senate committee
7. April 1, 2026Withdrawn