The parent, guardian, or other person responsible for any person believed to be mentally retarded within the meaning of this chapter may on behalf of such person request the county board of supervisors or their designated agent to apply to the superintendent of any state hospital-school for the voluntary admission of such person either as an inpatient or an outpatient of the hospital-school. After determining the legal settlement of such person as provided by this chapter, the board of supervisors shall, on forms prescribed by the administrator, apply to the superintendent of the hospital-school in the district for the admission of such person to the hospital-school. An application for admission to a special unit of any person believed to be in need of any of the services provided by the special unit under section 222.88 may be made in the same manner, upon request of the parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the handicapped person. The superintendent shall accept the application providing a preadmission diagnostic evaluation confirms or establishes the need for admission, except that no application may be accepted if the institution does not have adequate facilities available or if the acceptance will result in an overcrowded condition.
If the hospital-school has no appropriate program for the treatment of such persons, the board of supervisors shall arrange for the placement of the persons in any public or private facility within or without the state, approved by the director of the department of human services, which offers appropriate services for such persons.
Upon applying for admission of a person to a hospital-school, or a special unit, the board of supervisors shall make a full investigation into the financial circumstances of that person and those liable for that person's support under section 222.78, to determine whether or not any of them are able to pay the expenses arising out of the admission of the person to a hospital-school or special treatment unit. If the board finds that the person or those legally responsible for the person are presently unable to pay such expenses, they shall direct that the expenses be paid by the county. The board may review its finding at any subsequent time while the person remains at the hospital-school, or is otherwise receiving care or treatment for which this chapter obligates the county to pay. If the board finds upon review that that person or those legally responsible for that person are presently able to pay such expenses, that finding shall apply only to the charges so incurred during the period beginning on the date of the review and continuing thereafter, unless and until the board again changes its finding. If the board finds that the person or those legally responsible for the person are able to pay the expenses, they shall direct that the charges be so paid to the extent required by section 222.78, and the county auditor shall be responsible for the collection thereof.
[C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, § 3464, 3477.2; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, § 222.54, 223.13; C66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, § 222.13]
83 Acts, ch 96, § 157, 159
Referred to in § 222.14, 222.31, 331.381, 331.502
Iowa General Assembly
Search: Iowa Code 1995
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