135H.1  Definitions.
  As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
  1.  “Approved qualifying organization” means any of the following:
  a.  The joint commission.
  b.  The commission on accreditation of rehabilitation facilities.
  c.  The council on accreditation.
  d.  A nationally recognized accrediting organization with standards comparable to the entities listed in paragraphs “a” through “c” that are acceptable under federal regulations.
  e.  An entity specified by rule adopted by the department in consultation with the department of health and human services.
  2.  “Department” means the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing.
  3.  “Direction” means authoritative policy or procedural guidance for the accomplishment of a function or an activity.
  4.  “Licensee” means the holder of a license issued to operate a psychiatric medical institution for children.
  5.  “Medical care plan” means a plan of care and services designed to eliminate the need for inpatient care by improving the condition of a youth. Services must be based upon a diagnostic evaluation, which includes a physical assessment and behavioral health evaluation of the medical, psychological, social, behavioral, and developmental aspects of the youth’s situation, reflecting the need for inpatient care.
  6.  “Mental health disorder” means a mental disorder as defined by the most recent version of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American psychiatric association.
  7.  “Mental health professional” means an individual who has all of the following qualifications:
  a.  The individual holds at least a master’s degree in a mental health field, including but not limited to, psychology, counseling and guidance, nursing, or social work, or the individual is a physician.
  b.  The individual holds a current Iowa license if practicing in a field that requires an Iowa license.
  c.  The individual has at least two years of post-degree clinical experience, supervised by another mental health professional, in assessing mental health needs and problems and in providing appropriate mental health services.
  8.  “Nursing care” means services which are provided under the direction of a physician or registered nurse.
  9.  “Physician” means a person licensed under chapter 148.
  10.  “Protective locked environment” means a setting that prevents egress from a building or grounds as a protective measure to ensure safety and security.
  11.  “Psychiatric medical institution for children” or “psychiatric institution” means an institution providing more than twenty-four hours of continuous care involving long-term psychiatric services to three or more youth in residence for expected periods of fourteen or more days for an assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis or for expected periods of ninety days or more for treatment.
  12.  “Psychiatric services” means services provided under the direction of a physician which address mental, emotional, medical, or behavioral problems.
  13.  “Record check evaluation system” means the same as defined in section 135C.1.
  14.  “Rehabilitative services” means services to encourage and assist restoration of a resident’s optimum mental and physical capabilities.
  15.  “Resident” means a youth who has been admitted to a psychiatric medical institution for children.
  16.  “Serious emotional disturbance” means a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder that meets the diagnostic criteria specified in the most current diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American psychiatric association. “Serious emotional disturbance” does not include a substance use disorder or developmental disorder unless such disorder co-occurs with a diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder.
  17.  “Substance use disorder” means the same as defined in section 125.2.
  18.  “Supervision” means direct oversight and inspection of an act that accomplishes a function or activity.
  19.  “Youth” means a person who is less than twenty-one years of age.
89 Acts, ch 283, §2; 94 Acts, ch 1120, §14, 15; 2008 Acts, ch 1088, §90; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1895; 2025 Acts, ch 86, §2
Referred to in §232.2, 249A.30A
Section amended