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