SSB 1227 (LSB 2623XC (6) 89)

SENATE FILE _____ 

BY  (PROPOSED COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES BILL BY CHAIRPERSON EDLER)

A BILL FOR

An Act establishing an inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system study committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES —— INPATIENT PSYCHIATRIC BED TRACKING SYSTEM STUDY COMMITTEE.
   1.  The department of human services shall convene a study committee to meet during the 2021 legislative interim to examine issues and develop policy recommendations relating to improvements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system including but not limited to the following:
   a.  Expanding the acuity of disabilities a hospital or facility is able to accept in its program to include but not be limited to persons with certain mental disabilities, behavioral disabilities, and sexually or physically aggressive behaviors.
   b.  Increasing reimbursement rates based on the level of care provided.
   c.  Implementing enhancements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system to accept and report real-time electronic data from the state mental health institutes, hospitals, and subacute mental health care facilities participating in the system.
   2.  The membership of the committee shall, at a minimum, consist of a representative from the department of human services, the Iowa hospital association, a managed care association, and law enforcement, and a private payor of inpatient services, and a county mental health advocate.
   3.  The department shall submit a report of the study committee detailing the committee’s findings and recommendations, including a proposed date to implement real-time electronic data tracking, to the general assembly and the governor no later than December 15, 2021.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill establishes an inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system study committee.
   The bill directs the department of human services (department) to convene a study committee during the 2021 interim to examine issues and develop policy recommendations relating to improvements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system including but not limited to expanding the acuity of disabilities a hospital or facility is able to accept in its program to include but not be limited to persons with certain mental disabilities, behavioral disabilities, and sexually or physically aggressive behaviors; increasing reimbursement rates based on the level of care provided; and implementing enhancements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system to accept and report real-time electronic data from the state mental health institutes, hospitals, and subacute mental health care facilities participating in the system.
   The bill requires the membership of the study committee to, at a minimum, consist of a representative from the department of human services, the Iowa hospital association, a managed care association, and law enforcement, and a private payor of inpatient psychiatric services, and a county mental health advocate.
   The bill requires the department to submit a report of the study committee detailing its findings and recommendations for improvements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system, including a proposed date to implement real-time electronic data tracking, to the general assembly and to the governor’s office by December 15, 2021.