Iowa § 135H.3 - 135H.3 Nature of care.

§ 135H.3. 135H.3 Nature of care.

1. a. A psychiatric medical institution for children shall provide shelter, food, supervision, care, assessment, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, counseling, rehabilitative services, and related professional-directed services to youth who have a serious emotional disturbance, a substance use disorder, or both, with the intention of reducing or ameliorating the disorder, the symptoms of the disorder, or the effects of the disorder. b. A psychiatric medical institution for children shall utilize a team of professionals to direct an organized program of diagnostic services, psychiatric services, nursing care, and rehabilitative services to meet the needs of residents in accordance with a medical care plan developed for each resident. The membership of the team of professionals may include but is not limited to an advanced registered nurse practitioner or a physician assistant. Social and rehabilitative services shall be provided under the direction of a qualified mental health professional. 2. If a youth is diagnosed with a biologically based mental illness as defined in section 514C.22 and meets the medical assistance program criteria for admission to a psychiatric medical institution for children, the youth shall be deemed to meet the acuity criteria for medically necessary inpatient benefits under a group policy, contract, or plan providing for third-party payment or prepayment of health, medical, and surgical coverage benefits issued by a carrier, as defined in section 513B.2, that is subject to section 514C.22. Such medically necessary benefits shall not be excluded or denied as care that is substantially custodial in nature under section 514C.22, subsection 8, paragraph “b”. 89 Acts, ch 283, §4; 2009 Acts, ch 179, §182; 2011 Acts, ch 121, §7; 2011 Acts, ch 131, §151, 153; 2017 Acts, ch 148, §29; 2025 Acts, ch 86, §3 Section amended Wed Dec 10 22:53:48 2025 Iowa Code 2026, Section 135H.3 (23, 1)