HF 451 (LSB 1830YH (7) 88)

HOUSE FILE 451

BY  FRY

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing a psychiatric patient placement clearinghouse and inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system work group.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT PLACEMENT CLEARINGHOUSE AND INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BED TRACKING SYSTEM WORK GROUP.
   1.  The department of human services shall convene a psychiatric patient placement clearinghouse and inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system work group to meet during the 2019 legislative interim to examine issues and develop policy recommendations relating to the establishment of a statewide clearinghouse for purposes of placing psychiatric patients in the appropriate level of care in close proximity to a patient’s home and to recommend improvements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system. The work group shall receive information relating to the establishment of a statewide psychiatric patient placement clearinghouse, including information relating to the utilization of telepsychiatry services and the sharing of patient information for the purposes of patient treatment and care coordination, as well as information relating to improvements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system from state departments and other entities and organizations including but not limited to the department of inspections and appeals, the Iowa hospital association, the national alliance on mental illness, and integrated telehealth partners.
   2.  The work group shall meet during the 2019 legislative interim and shall submit findings and recommendations in a report to the governor and the general assembly by December 31, 2019. 
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires the department of human services (DHS) to convene a psychiatric patient placement clearinghouse and inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system work group for the 2019 legislative interim.
   The bill directs the work group to examine issues and develop policy recommendations relating to the establishment of a statewide clearinghouse for the purposes of placing psychiatric patients in the appropriate level of care in close proximity to a patient’s home and to recommend improvements to the psychiatric bed tracking system.
   The work group shall receive information from the department of inspections and appeals, the Iowa hospital association, the national alliance on mental illness, and integrated telehealth partners relating to the use of telepsychiatry services and the sharing of patient information for patient treatment and care coordination purposes and relating to improvements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system.
   The bill provides that the work group shall meet during the 2019 legislative interim and submit findings and recommendations in a report to the governor and the general assembly by December 31, 2019.