This bill addresses various aspects of mental health care, specifically focusing on subacute mental health care facilities. It introduces new requirements for these facilities, including the necessity to develop a written treatment care plan with residents within 24 hours of admission. The bill also eliminates the previous limitation of a 10-day stay in subacute mental health care unless extended by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Additionally, it prohibits managed care organizations (MCOs) from requiring preauthorization for admissions or the first 15 days of treatment, and restricts MCOs from discharging residents until proper support systems are in place to prevent self-harm or harm to others.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that health carriers provide coverage for subacute mental health services and establishes penalties for non-compliance. It requires HHS to create an electronic bed tracking system for psychiatric medical institutions for children and directs HHS and the Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL) to review and eliminate any administrative rules that hinder the establishment or expansion of subacute mental health care facilities. DIAL is also tasked with adopting rules to increase the maximum bed capacity for these facilities without classifying them as state mental health institutes. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 135G.1, 135G.3