SF 2216 (LSB 5813XS (4) 89)

SENATE FILE 2216

BY  EDLER

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to the establishment of state intensive psychiatric units at the state mental health institutes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES —— STATE INTENSIVE PSYCHIATRIC UNITS.
   1.  The department of human services shall establish, at the state mental health institutes, intensive psychiatric units for adults with certain mental health and behavioral health disabilities and intensive psychiatric units for children with certain mental health and behavioral health disabilities who may benefit from more extensive and intensive mental and behavioral health treatment services with the goal of providing a higher acuity of care for such persons.
   2.  Each intensive psychiatric unit shall have a minimum of twelve residential service beds to be used by adults and children with the highest acuity level of needs at the mental health institute where the intensive psychiatric unit is established, but the mental health institute may use the beds for persons with lower-level acuity needs if beds are otherwise available within an intensive psychiatric unit.
   3.  The department of human services shall collect data necessary to determine the effectiveness of each intensive psychiatric unit. Four years after the department determines an intensive psychiatric unit is operational, the department shall submit a report to the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on health and human services with details on the effectiveness of the intensive psychiatric units and recommendations for such units. Such details shall include but not be limited to the impact the intensive psychiatric units have on community mental health facilities and emergency departments in this state. No later than one year from the date the department submits its report, the legislature shall determine whether to continue operations of the intensive psychiatric units based on the efficacy and feasibility for continued use of such units.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to the establishment of state intensive psychiatric units at the state mental health institutes.
   The bill directs the department of human services (DHS) to establish, at the state mental health institutes, intensive psychiatric units for adults and intensive psychiatric units for children with certain mental health and behavioral health disabilities who may benefit from more extensive and intensive mental and behavioral health treatment services with the goal of providing a higher acuity of care for such persons.
   The bill requires each intensive psychiatric unit to have a minimum of 12 residential service beds to be used by adults and children with the highest acuity level of needs at the state mental health institute where intensive psychiatric units are established, but the state mental health institute may use the beds for persons with lower-level acuity needs if beds are otherwise available within an intensive psychiatric unit.
   The bill requires DHS to collect data necessary to determine the effectiveness of each intensive psychiatric unit. Four years after DHS determines an intensive psychiatric unit is operational, DHS shall provide a report to the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint appropriations subcommittee on health and human services with details on the effectiveness of the intensive psychiatric units and recommendations for such units. Such details shall include but not be limited to the impact the units have on community mental health facilities and emergency departments in this state. No later than one year from the date DHS submits its report, the legislature shall determine whether to continue operations of the intensive psychiatric units based on the efficacy and feasibility for continued use of such units.