HF 385 Iowa House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

A bill for an act relating to discharge of involuntarily committed persons from a facility or a hospital.

HF 385 requires hospitals and facilities treating involuntarily committed mental health patients in Iowa to implement specific discharge protocols. Before releasing a patient, facilities must refer them to an administrative services organization, assess suicide risk, provide a 15-day supply of prescribed medications (with reimbursement options if not covered), and create a detailed discharge report including care plans, medication lists, and appointment details. This bill directly affects hospitals, patients under involuntary commitment, and administrative services organizations responsible for coordinating post-discharge care. The law also mandates quarterly reports from these organizations to the state department and requires facilities to notify courts of discharges for confirmation.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Mar 26, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Reprinted · 6 edits
MODERATE
This bill updates the discharge process for individuals involuntarily committed for mental health or substance use disorders, shifting the focus from general case management to specific system navigation and postdischarge support. The changes require facilities to provide a fifteen-day medication supply (reduced from thirty days) and mandate that facilities seek reimbursement from Administrative Services Organizations if insurance or Medicaid does not cover medication costs. Additionally, the bill clarifies that Administrative Services Organizations may delegate their duties to managed care organizations if the patient qualifies for Medicaid.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on the discharge of involuntarily committed individuals, but the specific entities responsible for postdischarge care and the financial responsibilities for medication costs have been refined.
REQUIREMENT

Reduced the required medication supply for discharged patients from thirty days to fifteen days.

Expanded the list of information facilities must include in discharge reports to ensure better continuity of care.

Updated the list of individuals facilities must notify upon discharge to include a broader range of family members and legal representatives.

FISCAL

Added a requirement for facilities to request reimbursement from Administrative Services Organizations for medication costs not covered by insurance or Medicaid.

ADDED

Added a new definition for 'Behavioral health district' to align with existing state statutes.

ELIGIBILITY

Clarified that Administrative Services Organizations can delegate postdischarge duties to managed care organizations specifically when the patient qualifies for Medicaid.

Floor votes · House Mar 20, 2025

How they voted

900
Passed · 10 other
Total votes 100
Mar 20, 2025
D Democratic33
29 Yea 4
87% Yea
R Republican67
61 Yea 6
91% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
7
Committee
4
Amendments
4
Apr 7, 2025
Introduced
Amendment S-3072 filed.
upper
Apr 7, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee report, recommending amendment and passage.
upper
Apr 1, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Mar 31, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: [].
legislature
Mar 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Klimesh, Guth, and Zimmer.
upper
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 89, nays 0.
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-1130 adopted, as amended.
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-1141 to amendment H-1130 adopted.
lower
Mar 19, 2025
Introduced
Amendments H-1130 and H-1141 filed.
lower
Feb 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.