HF 479 (LSB 2204YH (5) 89)

HOUSE FILE 479

BY  MASCHER, STAED, HANSEN, and WINCKLER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to a Medicaid demonstration waiver to support and improve the delivery of mental health services through institutions for mental diseases.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  MEDICAID DEMONSTRATION WAIVER —— MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES —— INSTITUTIONS FOR MENTAL DISEASES.  The department of human services shall submit a Medicaid 1115 demonstration waiver application to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United States department of health and human services, as described in state Medicaid director letter #18-011, to provide and seek federal financial participation for services for Medicaid members with serious mental illness (SMI) or serious emotional disturbance (SED) during short-term stays for acute care in residential and inpatient settings that qualify as institutions for mental diseases (IMDs) as defined in 42 U.S.C. §1396d(i). The goal of this demonstration waiver is for the state to maintain and enhance access to mental health services and continue delivery system improvements to provide more coordinated and comprehensive treatment of Medicaid members with SMI or SED through both inpatient and residential settings that qualify as IMDs and through community-based mental health care settings. The department shall provide progress reports regarding the approval of the demonstration waiver application to the governor and the general assembly on a quarterly basis.
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 submit a Medicaid 1115 demonstration waiver application to the centers for Medicare and Medicaid services of the United States department of health and human services to provide and seek federal financial participation for services for Medicaid members with serious mental illness (SMI) or serious emotional disturbance (SED) during short-term stays for acute care in residential and inpatient settings that qualify as institutions for mental diseases (IMDs). The goal of this demonstration waiver is for the state to maintain and enhance access to mental health services and continue delivery system improvements to provide more coordinated and comprehensive treatment of Medicaid beneficiaries with SMI or SED through both inpatient and residential settings that qualify as IMDs and through community-based mental health care settings. DHS shall provide progress reports regarding the approval of the demonstration waiver application to the governor and the general assembly on a quarterly basis.