Text: HF02329 Text: HF02331 Text: HF02300 - HF02399 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 DIVISION I 1 2 MANDATED COVERAGE FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS 1 3 Section 1. NEW SECTION. 514C.21 MANDATED COVERAGE FOR 1 4 MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. 1 5 1. a. Notwithstanding section 514C.6, a policy or 1 6 contract providing for third-party payment or prepayment of 1 7 health or medical expenses shall provide coverage benefits for 1 8 mental health conditions based on rates, terms, and conditions 1 9 which are no more restrictive than the rates, terms, and 1 10 conditions for coverage benefits provided for other health or 1 11 medical conditions under the policy or contract. 1 12 Additionally, any rates, terms, and conditions involving 1 13 deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and any other cost- 1 14 sharing requirements shall be cumulative for coverage of both 1 15 mental health conditions and other health or medical 1 16 conditions under the policy or contract. 1 17 b. Coverage required under this subsection shall be as 1 18 follows: 1 19 (1) For the treatment of mental illness, coverage shall be 1 20 for services provided by a licensed mental health 1 21 professional, or services provided in a licensed hospital or 1 22 health facility. 1 23 (2) For the treatment of alcohol or substance abuse, 1 24 coverage shall be for services provided by a substance abuse 1 25 counselor, as approved by the department of human services, a 1 26 licensed health facility providing a program for the treatment 1 27 of alcohol or substance abuse approved by the department of 1 28 human services, or a licensed substance abuse treatment and 1 29 rehabilitation facility. 1 30 2. This section applies to the following classes of third- 1 31 party payment provider contracts or policies delivered, issued 1 32 for delivery, continued, or renewed in this state on or after 1 33 January 1, 2003: 1 34 a. Individual or group accident and sickness insurance 1 35 providing coverage on an expense-incurred basis. 2 1 b. An individual or group hospital or medical service 2 2 contract issued pursuant to chapter 509, 514, or 514A. 2 3 c. An individual or group health maintenance organization 2 4 contract regulated under chapter 514B. 2 5 d. An individual or group Medicare supplemental policy, 2 6 unless coverage pursuant to such policy is preempted by 2 7 federal law. 2 8 e. Any other entity engaged in the business of insurance, 2 9 risk transfer, or risk retention, which is subject to the 2 10 jurisdiction of the commissioner. 2 11 f. An organized delivery system licensed by the director 2 12 of public health. 2 13 3. For purposes of this section, unless the context 2 14 otherwise requires: 2 15 a. "Mental health condition" means a condition or disorder 2 16 involving mental illness or alcohol or substance abuse that 2 17 falls under any of the diagnostic categories listed in the 2 18 mental disorders section of the international classification 2 19 of disease, as periodically revised. 2 20 b. "Rates, terms, and conditions" means any lifetime 2 21 payment limits, deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and any 2 22 other cost-sharing requirements, out-of-pocket limits, visit 2 23 limitations, and any other financial component of benefits 2 24 coverage that affects the covered individual. 2 25 DIVISION II 2 26 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH ASSETS 2 27 Sec. 2. Section 28.4, Code Supplement 2001, is amended by 2 28 adding the following new subsection: 2 29 NEW SUBSECTION. 13. Develop and provide technical 2 30 assistance for those community empowerment areas implementing 2 31 collaborative initiatives supporting the critical factors of 2 32 youth asset development directed to one or more of the 2 33 following child age groups: infant, toddler, preschool, 2 34 elementary school, and adolescent. 2 35 DIVISION III 3 1 DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES ACTIVITIES 3 2 Sec. 3. Section 232.69, Code Supplement 2001, is amended 3 3 by adding the following new subsection: 3 4 NEW SUBSECTION. 4. The department shall work with 3 5 professional organizations and others in adopting an 3 6 assessment-based model to assist persons required to make a 3 7 report under subsection 1 in assessing risk to a child and 3 8 identifying other factors relating to protection of children. 3 9 The department shall implement the model in a manner that 3 10 improves community education relating to detection and 3 11 intervention of child abuse and neglect. 3 12 Sec. 4. GROUP FOSTER CARE PLACEMENT RESTRICTIONS. It is 3 13 the intent of the general assembly to replace the statewide 3 14 expenditure target and area budget targets for children in 3 15 group foster care placements under section 232.143 by 3 16 implementing statutory criteria for authorizing the 3 17 placements. The department of human services shall develop an 3 18 implementation plan based upon the criteria for such 3 19 placements identified by the child welfare league of America. 3 20 The department shall submit the plan for consideration by the 3 21 governor and the general assembly in January 2003. The plan 3 22 shall include a schedule allowing for enactment of full 3 23 implementation of the criteria and elimination of the current 3 24 expenditure targets by July 1, 2008. 3 25 Sec. 5. INCENTIVES AND TRAINING FOR FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE 3 26 PARENTS. The department of human services shall consult with 3 27 the Iowa foster and adoptive parents association, providers of 3 28 support services to foster and adoptive parents, and other 3 29 knowledgeable persons in developing reasonable strategies for 3 30 increasing the incentives to become and training available to 3 31 foster parents and adoptive parents. The department shall 3 32 submit a report of the strategies, including findings, 3 33 recommendations, and specific cost projections, to the 3 34 governor and general assembly in January 2003. 3 35 Sec. 6. CHILD CARE AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY. The 4 1 department shall consult with the child care advisory council, 4 2 child care resource and referral service providers, and other 4 3 knowledgeable persons in developing strategies for improving 4 4 child care availability and quality that may implemented in a 4 5 reasonable manner. The considerations addressed may include 4 6 but are not limited to discussion of the issues associated 4 7 with increasing the overall quantity of providers, increasing 4 8 the quantity of registered and licensed providers, enhancing 4 9 private and public funding of child care, and addressing the 4 10 relative affordability of child care to Iowans with young 4 11 children in both rural and urban areas of the state. The 4 12 department shall submit a report of the strategies, including 4 13 findings, recommendations, and specific cost projections, to 4 14 the governor and general assembly in January 2003. 4 15 DIVISION IV 4 16 SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT 4 17 Sec. 7. SUPPLY AND UNMET NEED FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE 4 18 TREATMENT SERVICES. The Iowa department of public health 4 19 shall assess the unmet need for substance abuse treatment 4 20 services in the state as compared to the available supply of 4 21 the services. The department shall submit a report to the 4 22 governor and the general assembly in January 2003 providing 4 23 detailed information on the assessment, including projections 4 24 of the funding required to meet the identified unmet need for 4 25 the services. 4 26 DIVISION V 4 27 MEDIATION SERVICES 4 28 Sec. 8. AVAILABILITY OF MEDIATION SERVICES FOR FAMILIES. 4 29 The judicial branch is requested to perform an assessment of 4 30 the availability of mediation services as described in chapter 4 31 679C or of similar services to support families in dispute 4 32 resolution, including mediation in dissolution of marriage 4 33 proceedings under section 598.7A. Upon completion of the 4 34 assessment, the judicial branch is requested to provide a 4 35 report to the governor and general assembly, along with the 5 1 judicial branch's conclusions and recommendations for 5 2 improving the availability of the services. 5 3 DIVISION VI 5 4 ENDOWMENT FUND 5 5 Sec. 9. Section 8.54, subsection 1, unnumbered paragraph 5 6 1, Code Supplement 2001, is amended to read as follows: 5 7 For the purposes of section 8.22A, this section, and 5 8 sections 8.55 through8.578.57B: 5 9 Sec. 10. Section 8.54, subsection 5, Code Supplement 2001, 5 10 is amended by striking the subsection. 5 11 Sec. 11. Section 8.55, subsection 2, Code Supplement 2001, 5 12 is amended to read as follows: 5 13 2. The maximum balance of the fund is the amount equal to 5 14 five percent of the adjusted revenue estimate for the fiscal 5 15 year. If the amount of moneys in the Iowa economic emergency 5 16 fund is equal to the maximum balance, moneys in excess of this 5 17 amount shall be transferred to thegeneral fundearly 5 18 childhood programs endowment fund created in section 8.57B. 5 19 Sec. 12. NEW SECTION. 8.57B EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS 5 20 ENDOWMENT FUND. 5 21 1. The early childhood programs endowment fund is created. 5 22 The fund shall be separate from the general fund of the state 5 23 and the balance in the fund shall not be considered part of 5 24 the balance of the general fund of the state. Notwithstanding 5 25 section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys 5 26 deposited in the fund shall be credited to the fund. The 5 27 moneys credited to the fund are not subject to section 8.33 5 28 and shall not be transferred, used, obligated, appropriated, 5 29 or otherwise encumbered except as provided in this section. 5 30 2. a. Except as provided in paragraph "b", the interest 5 31 and earnings on moneys in the early childhood programs 5 32 endowment fund shall only be used pursuant to an annual 5 33 appropriation made by the general assembly for purposes of 5 34 enhancing preschool and early education programs for young 5 35 children and their families. Otherwise, moneys credited to 6 1 the early childhood programs endowment fund are not subject to 6 2 appropriation unless the bill or joint resolution making the 6 3 appropriation complies with all of the following requirements: 6 4 (1) The appropriation is contained in a bill or joint 6 5 resolution in which the appropriation is the only subject 6 6 matter of the bill or joint resolution. 6 7 (2) The bill or joint resolution states the reasons the 6 8 appropriation is necessary. 6 9 (3) The bill or joint resolution is approved by vote of at 6 10 least three-fifths of the members of both chambers of the 6 11 general assembly and is signed by the governor. 6 12 b. Moneys in the fund may be used for cash flow purposes 6 13 during a fiscal year provided that any moneys so allocated are 6 14 returned to the fund by the end of that fiscal year. 6 15 c. Except as provided in section 8.58, the early childhood 6 16 programs endowment fund shall be considered a special account 6 17 for the purposes of section 8.53 in determining the cash 6 18 position of the general fund of the state for the payment of 6 19 state obligations. 6 20 Sec. 13. Section 8.58, Code 2001, is amended to read as 6 21 follows: 6 22 8.58 EXEMPTION FROM AUTOMATIC APPLICATION. 6 23 To the extent that moneys appropriated under section 8.57 6 24 or transferred to the early childhood programs endowment fund 6 25 under section 8.55, subsection 2, do not result in moneys 6 26 being credited to the general fundunder section 8.55,6 27subsection 2, moneys appropriated under section 8.57 and 6 28 moneys contained in the cash reserve fund, rebuild Iowa 6 29 infrastructure fund, environment first fund, early childhood 6 30 programs endowment fund, and Iowa economic emergency fund 6 31 shall not be considered in the application of any formula, 6 32 index, or other statutory triggering mechanism which would 6 33 affect appropriations, payments, or taxation rates, contrary 6 34 provisions of the Code notwithstanding. 6 35 To the extent that moneys appropriated under section 8.57 7 1 or transferred to the early childhood programs endowment fund 7 2 under section 8.55, subsection 2, do not result in moneys 7 3 being credited to the general fundunder section 8.55,7 4subsection 2, moneys appropriated under section 8.57 and 7 5 moneys contained in the cash reserve fund, rebuild Iowa 7 6 infrastructure fund, environment first fund, early childhood 7 7 programs endowment fund, and Iowa economic emergency fund 7 8 shall not be considered by an arbitrator or in negotiations 7 9 under chapter 20. 7 10 EXPLANATION 7 11 This bill relates to safe and healthy families by providing 7 12 for mandated health coverage of mental health conditions, 7 13 community empowerment activities to develop family assets, 7 14 policy development activities, and creation of an endowment 7 15 fund for children. 7 16 Division I creates new Code section 514C.21 and provides 7 17 that a policy or contract providing on or after January 1, 7 18 2003, for third-party payment or prepayment of health or 7 19 medical expenses must provide coverage benefits for mental 7 20 health conditions based on rates, terms, and conditions which 7 21 are no more restrictive than the rates, terms, and conditions 7 22 associated with coverage benefits provided for other 7 23 conditions under the policy or contract. Mental health 7 24 conditions are defined to mean a condition or disorder 7 25 involving mental illness or alcohol or substance abuse that 7 26 falls under any of the diagnostic categories listed in the 7 27 mental disorders section of the international classification 7 28 of disease, as periodically updated. 7 29 Division II includes as a duty of the Iowa empowerment 7 30 board under Code section 28.4 the development and provision of 7 31 technical assistance for community empowerment areas 7 32 implementing collaborative initiatives supporting the critical 7 33 factors of youth asset development directed to specific child 7 34 age groups. 7 35 Division III directs the department of human services to 8 1 perform various activities. Code section 232.69, relating to 8 2 mandatory reporters of child abuse, is amended to direct the 8 3 department to work with professional organizations and others 8 4 in adopting an assessment-based model to assist mandatory 8 5 reporters in assessing risk to a child and identifying other 8 6 factors relating to protection of children. The model is to 8 7 be implemented in a manner that improves community education. 8 8 Division III also states legislative intent to replace the 8 9 current restrictions on expenditures for group foster care 8 10 placements with criteria for making the placements. The 8 11 department is directed to develop a plan for full 8 12 implementation by July 1, 2008. 8 13 Division III directs the department to consult with foster 8 14 and adoptive parents and others in developing reasonable 8 15 strategies for increasing the incentives to become and 8 16 training available to foster parents and adoptive parents. A 8 17 report is to be submitted to the governor and general assembly 8 18 in January 2003. 8 19 Division III directs the department to consult with various 8 20 persons knowledgeable concerning child care in developing 8 21 strategies for improving child care availability and quality. 8 22 Various considerations are listed that may be addressed. A 8 23 report is to be submitted to the governor and general assembly 8 24 in January 2003. 8 25 Division IV directs the Iowa department of public health to 8 26 assess the availability of substance abuse services as 8 27 compared to the unmet need for the services. The department's 8 28 report to the governor and general assembly in January 2003 is 8 29 to include projections on the funding required to meet the 8 30 need. 8 31 Division V requests the judicial branch to assess the 8 32 availability of mediation and other dispute resolution 8 33 services available to families, including services during 8 34 dissolution of marriage, and to submit a report to the 8 35 governor and general assembly. 9 1 Division VI creates an early childhood programs endowment 9 2 fund in the state treasury. Moneys remaining at the close of 9 3 the fiscal year, after both the cash reserve fund and the Iowa 9 4 economic emergency fund have achieved their maximum balances, 9 5 are credited to the endowment fund. 9 6 Moneys in the endowment fund may be used for cash flow 9 7 purposes, provided the moneys are returned to the fund by the 9 8 end of the fiscal year. The interest and earnings on the fund 9 9 can only be used through an annual appropriation for purposes 9 10 of enhancing preschool and early education programs for young 9 11 children and their families. Otherwise, other moneys in the 9 12 fund are not subject to appropriation unless the appropriation 9 13 meets all of these conditions: the appropriation is the only 9 14 subject of the bill or joint resolution making the 9 15 appropriation, the reasons the appropriation is necessary are 9 16 stated, and at least three-fifths of the members of both 9 17 chambers of the general assembly vote for approval and the 9 18 bill or joint resolution is approved by the governor. 9 19 The bill includes conforming changes in Code section 8.54 9 20 to strike the transfer of general fund ending balance moneys 9 21 back to the general fund once the cash reserve and Iowa 9 22 economic emergency funds have achieved their maximum balance, 9 23 and to provide in Code section 8.58, that the endowment fund 9 24 moneys shall not be considered in any formula or other 9 25 statutory triggering mechanism or in collective bargaining 9 26 negotiations or arbitration. 9 27 LSB 6274HH 79 9 28 jp/sh/8
Text: HF02329 Text: HF02331 Text: HF02300 - HF02399 Text: HF Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
© 2002 Cornell College and League of Women Voters of Iowa
Comments about this site or page?
webmaster@legis.iowa.gov.
Please remember that the person listed above does not vote on bills. Direct all comments concerning legislation to State Legislators.
Last update: Thu Feb 21 03:35:28 CST 2002
URL: /DOCS/GA/79GA/Legislation/HF/02300/HF02330/020213.html
jhf