Bill Text: IA SF2261 | 2019-2020 | 88th General Assembly | Enrolled
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the provision of behavioral health services including via telehealth in a school setting. (Formerly SF 2100.) Effective date: 07/01/2020.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2020-06-29 - Signed by Governor. S.J. 863. [SF2261 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2019-SF2261-Enrolled.html
Senate
File
2261
-
Enrolled
Senate
File
2261
AN
ACT
RELATING
TO
THE
PROVISION
OF
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH
SERVICES
INCLUDING
VIA
TELEHEALTH
IN
A
SCHOOL
SETTING.
BE
IT
ENACTED
BY
THE
GENERAL
ASSEMBLY
OF
THE
STATE
OF
IOWA:
Section
1.
NEW
SECTION
.
280A.1
Definitions.
As
used
in
this
section,
unless
the
context
otherwise
requires:
1.
“Accredited
nonpublic
school”
means
any
school,
other
than
a
public
school,
that
is
accredited
pursuant
to
section
256.11
for
any
and
all
levels
for
grades
one
through
twelve.
2.
“Area
education
agency”
means
an
area
education
agency
established
pursuant
to
chapter
273.
3.
“Behavioral
health
screening”
or
“screening”
means
a
screening
and
assessment
performed
using
a
universal
behavioral
health
screening
and
assessment
tool,
approved
for
use
by
the
department
of
education
in
consultation
with
the
department
of
public
health
and
the
department
of
human
services,
to
identify
factors
that
place
children
at
higher
risk
for
behavioral
health
conditions,
to
determine
appropriate
treatment
or
intervention,
and
to
identify
the
need
for
referral
for
appropriate
services.
4.
“Behavioral
health
services”
means
services
provided
by
a
health
care
professional
operating
within
the
scope
of
the
health
care
professional’s
practice
which
address
mental,
emotional,
medical,
or
behavioral
conditions,
illnesses,
diseases,
or
problems.
Senate
File
2261,
p.
2
5.
“Health
care
professional”
means
a
physician
or
other
health
care
practitioner
licensed,
accredited,
registered,
or
certified
to
perform
specified
health
care
services
consistent
with
state
law.
6.
“In-person
encounter”
means
that
the
mental
health
professional
and
the
student
are
in
the
physical
presence
of
each
other
and
are
in
the
same
physical
location
during
the
provision
of
behavioral
health
services.
7.
“Mental
health
professional”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
228.1.
8.
“Patient”
means
a
student
receiving
a
behavioral
health
screening
or
other
behavioral
health
services
in
accordance
with
this
chapter.
9.
“Primary
care
provider”
means
the
personal
provider
trained
to
provide
the
first
contact
and
continuous
and
comprehensive
care
to
a
patient
and
includes
but
is
not
limited
to
any
of
the
following
licensed
or
certified
health
care
professionals
who
provide
primary
care:
a.
A
physician
who
is
a
family
or
general
practitioner
or
a
pediatrician.
b.
An
advanced
registered
nurse
practitioner.
c.
A
physician
assistant.
10.
“Provider-patient
relationship”
means
the
relationship
between
the
patient
and
the
mental
health
professional
that
meets
the
requirements
for
commencement
and
establishment
of
a
valid
provider-patient
relationship
as
specified
in
this
chapter.
11.
“Public
school”
means
any
school
directly
supported
in
whole
or
in
part
by
taxation.
12.
“School
district”
means
a
school
district
described
in
chapter
274.
13.
“Student”
means
a
person
enrolled
in
and
attending
an
accredited
nonpublic
school
or
a
public
school
in
grades
one
through
twelve.
14.
“Telehealth”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
514C.34.
Sec.
2.
NEW
SECTION
.
280A.2
Behavioral
health
screenings
and
assessments
in
school
settings.
1.
a.
A
school
district,
an
accredited
nonpublic
school,
Senate
File
2261,
p.
3
or
an
area
education
agency
may
contract
with
a
mental
health
professional
or
a
nationally
accredited
behavioral
health
care
organization
to
provide
behavioral
health
screenings
to
students
in
person.
b.
(1)
A
behavioral
health
screening
may
be
conducted
following
provision
of
written
consent
by
the
student’s
parent
or
guardian
for
the
student
to
participate
in
such
screening.
(2)
The
consent
shall
also
allow
for
the
disclosure
of
the
results
of
such
screenings
to
the
school
district,
accredited
nonpublic
school,
or
area
education
agency,
if
the
mental
health
professional
believes
there
is
a
credible
threat
to
the
health
and
safety
of
the
student
or
others.
2.
If
a
mental
health
professional
conducts
an
initial
behavioral
health
screening
on
the
premises
of
a
public
school,
an
accredited
nonpublic
school,
or
an
area
education
agency
and
determines
that
a
student
should
be
referred
for
additional
behavioral
health
services,
all
of
the
following
shall
apply:
a.
The
mental
health
professional
shall
notify
the
parent
or
guardian
of
the
student
of
the
results
of
the
screening.
b.
The
mental
health
professional
may
notify
the
student’s
primary
care
provider
following
provision
of
written
consent
by
the
student’s
parent
or
guardian.
If
a
student
does
not
have
a
primary
care
provider,
the
mental
health
professional
may
provide
a
listing
of
local
primary
care
providers
to
the
student’s
parent
or
guardian.
Sec.
3.
NEW
SECTION
.
280A.3
Establishment
of
provider-patient
relationship
for
services
provided
via
telehealth
in
a
school
setting.
1.
A
mental
health
professional
who
provides
services
via
telehealth
in
a
public
school,
an
accredited
nonpublic
school,
or
an
area
education
agency
shall
establish
a
valid
provider-patient
relationship
with
the
student
who
receives
telehealth
services.
2.
The
provider-patient
relationship
commences
when
all
of
the
following
conditions
are
met:
a.
The
student
with
the
health-related
matter
with
the
consent
of
the
student’s
parent
or
guardian
seeks
assistance
from
a
mental
health
professional.
b.
The
mental
health
professional
agrees
to
undertake
Senate
File
2261,
p.
4
diagnosis
and
treatment
of
the
student.
c.
The
student’s
parent
or
guardian
agrees
to
have
the
student
treated
by
the
mental
health
professional.
3.
A
valid
provider-patient
relationship
may
be
established
through
any
of
the
following
means:
a.
Through
an
in-person
encounter
which
includes
an
in-person
medical
interview
and
physical
examination
conducted
under
the
standard
of
care
required
for
an
in-person
encounter.
b.
Through
consultation
with
a
primary
care
provider
who
has
an
established
relationship
with
the
patient
and
who
agrees
to
participate
in
or
supervise
the
patient’s
care.
c.
Through
telehealth,
if
the
standard
of
care
does
not
require
an
in-person
encounter,
in
accordance
with
evidence-based
standards
of
practice
and
telehealth
practice
guidelines
that
address
the
clinical
and
technological
aspects
of
telehealth,
and
the
student’s
parent
or
guardian
is
present.
4.
The
parent
or
guardian
of
a
student
shall
consent
prior
to
the
student
receiving
behavioral
health
services
via
telehealth
under
this
chapter
after
a
provider-patient
relationship
is
established
pursuant
to
this
section.
The
school
district
shall
maintain
any
such
consent
form
completed
by
a
parent
or
guardian.
Sec.
4.
NEW
SECTION
.
280A.4
Behavioral
health
services
provided
via
telehealth
in
a
school
setting.
1.
A
public
school,
accredited
nonpublic
school,
or
an
area
education
agency
may
provide
access
to
behavioral
health
services
via
telehealth
on
the
premises
of
the
public
school,
accredited
nonpublic
school,
or
area
education
agency.
If
a
public
school,
an
accredited
nonpublic
school,
or
an
area
education
agency
provides
such
access,
the
school
or
area
education
agency
shall
do
all
of
the
following:
a.
Provide
a
secure,
confidential,
and
private
room
for
such
services
and
the
technology
necessary
to
conduct
telehealth
services.
b.
Maintain
parent
or
guardian
consent
forms
for
the
provision
of
such
services.
Consent
forms
shall
be
required
for
each
academic
year
in
which
the
student
receives
such
services.
c.
Maintain
scheduling
requests
for
student
appointments
Senate
File
2261,
p.
5
for
such
services
and
provide
the
student
access
to
the
room
by
a
school
nurse
or
other
appropriately
trained
school
or
area
education
agency
employee.
d.
Ensure
that
no
school
or
area
education
agency
employee
is
present
in
the
same
room
as
the
student
during
the
provision
of
such
services.
e.
Provide
information
to
the
student
participating
in
telehealth
services
about
how
and
to
whom
to
report
inappropriate
behavior
by
a
mental
health
professional.
f.
Provide
access
to
the
student’s
parent
or
guardian
to
participate
in
any
of
the
student’s
telehealth
sessions.
2.
The
public
school,
accredited
nonpublic
school,
or
area
education
agency
shall
not
have
access
to
or
handle
any
of
the
student’s
medical
records
or
be
responsible
for
billing
for
the
telehealth
services
provided.
3.
A
mental
health
professional
with
prescribing
authority
who
provides
telehealth
services
in
accordance
with
this
section
shall
not
prescribe
any
new
medication
to
a
student
during
a
telehealth
session.
However,
a
mental
health
professional
with
prescribing
authority
may
initiate
new
prescriptions,
alter
the
dosage
of
an
existing
medication,
or
discontinue
an
existing
medication
for
the
treatment
of
the
student’s
behavioral
health
condition
after
consultation
with
the
student’s
parent
or
guardian.
4.
The
mental
health
professional
shall
notify
the
student’s
parent
or
guardian
of
the
time
and
place
for
each
scheduled
telehealth
session
and
specify
the
means
available
for
the
parent
or
guardian
to
participate
in
the
session.
5.
Protected
health
information,
including
but
not
limited
to
medical
records
and
medical
billing
information,
created
by
the
mental
health
professional
or
primary
care
provider
shall
not
be
shared
with
or
disclosed
to
a
public
school,
accredited
nonpublic
school,
or
area
education
agency,
unless
disclosure
is
necessary
to
prevent
or
lessen
a
serious
and
imminent
threat
to
the
health
or
safety
of
the
student
or
to
a
clearly
identifiable
person
or
persons
and
the
mental
health
professional
determines
the
student
has
the
apparent
intent
and
ability
to
carry
out
the
threat.
6.
A
school
district,
an
accredited
nonpublic
school,
Senate
File
2261,
p.
6
an
area
education
agency,
the
board
of
directors
of
a
school
district
or
an
area
education
agency,
authorities
in
charge
of
the
accredited
nonpublic
school,
and
employees
of
the
school
district,
accredited
nonpublic
school
or
area
education
agency,
shall
not
be
liable
for
any
injury
arising
from
the
provision
of
voluntary
behavioral
health
screenings
or
behavioral
health
services
in
accordance
with
this
chapter,
provided
such
person
has
acted
reasonably
and
in
good
faith
and
in
accordance
with
the
provisions
of
this
chapter.
Sec.
5.
NEW
SECTION
.
514C.35
Behavioral
health
services
provided
in
a
school
——
coverage.
1.
Notwithstanding
the
uniformity
of
treatment
requirements
of
section
514C.6,
a
policy,
contract,
or
plan
providing
for
third-party
payment
or
prepayment
of
health
or
medical
expenses
shall
not
deny
coverage
or
payment
for
behavioral
health
services,
including
behavioral
health
services
provided
via
telehealth,
solely
because
the
services
are
delivered
in
a
school.
2.
Nothing
in
this
section
shall
be
interpreted
to
do
any
of
the
following:
a.
Require
an
insurer
to
pay
for
behavioral
health
services
that
are
otherwise
excluded
from
coverage
under
a
policy,
contract,
or
plan.
b.
Require
an
insurer
to
pay
for
behavioral
health
services
that
are
provided
by
an
individual
employed
by
or
under
contract
with
a
school
district
or
an
educational
service
agency
in
a
regular
full-time
or
part-time
position,
or
any
other
party
that
has
not
entered
into
a
provider
agreement
with
the
insurer.
c.
Prevent
application
of
any
other
provision
of
a
policy,
contract,
or
plan.
3.
This
section
applies
to
third-party
payment
provider
policies,
contracts,
or
plans
delivered,
issued
for
delivery,
continued,
or
renewed
in
this
state
on
or
after
January
1,
2021,
and
to
claims
for
reimbursement
under
such
policies,
contracts,
or
plans
incurred
on
or
after
January
1,
2021.
4.
For
the
purposes
of
this
section:
a.
“Behavioral
health
services”
means
services
provided
by
a
health
care
professional
operating
within
the
scope
of
Senate
File
2261,
p.
7
the
health
care
professional’s
practice
which
address
mental,
emotional,
medical,
or
behavioral
conditions,
illnesses,
diseases,
or
problems.
b.
“Educational
service
agency”
means
a
governmental
agency
or
government
entity
which
is
established
and
operated
exclusively
for
the
purpose
of
providing
educational
services
to
one
or
more
educational
institutions.
c.
“Health
care
professional”
means
a
physician
or
other
health
care
practitioner
licensed,
accredited,
registered,
or
certified
to
perform
specified
health
care
services
consistent
with
state
law.
d.
“School”
means
all
of
the
following:
(1)
A
any
school,
other
than
a
public
school,
that
is
accredited
pursuant
to
section
256.11
for
any
and
all
levels
for
grades
one
through
twelve.
(2)
Any
school
directly
supported
in
whole
or
in
part
by
taxation.
(3)
An
area
education
agency
established
pursuant
to
chapter
273.
e.
“School
district”
means
a
school
district
described
in
chapter
274.
f.
“Telehealth”
means
the
same
as
defined
in
section
514C.34.
______________________________
CHARLES
SCHNEIDER
President
of
the
Senate
______________________________
PAT
GRASSLEY
Speaker
of
the
House
I
hereby
certify
that
this
bill
originated
in
the
Senate
and
is
known
as
Senate
File
2261,
Eighty-eighth
General
Assembly.
______________________________
W.
CHARLES
SMITHSON
Secretary
of
the
Senate
Approved
_______________,
2020
______________________________
KIM
REYNOLDS
Governor