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

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 10 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 24 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 48 hours after the date of the receipt of the request if the request is urgent; within 5 calendar days after the date of the receipt of the request if the request is nonurgent; and within 10 calendar days after the date of the receipt of the request if the request is nonurgent and involves complex or unique circumstances. 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.