Section 441.202.16. Department approval of need for a psychiatric medical institution for children.

       202.16(1) Applicants for departmental approval of need shall submit the following to the division of child and family services:

        a.           A description of the population to be served, including age, sex, and types of disorders, and an estimate of the number of these youth in need of psychiatric care in the area of the state in which the applicant is located.

        b.           A statement of the number of beds requested and a description of the treatment program to be provided, the outcomes to be achieved and the techniques for measuring outcomes.

        c.           A proposed date of operation as a psychiatric medical institution for children.

        d.           A description of the applicant’s experience with providing similar services to youth, especially the target population.

        e.           A description of the applicant’s plan, including the timeline for achieving accreditation to provide psychiatric services from a federally recognized accrediting organization under the organization’s standards for residential settings and licensure as a psychiatric medical institution for children, or a copy of the organization’s report if already accredited.

        f.            References from the service area manager for the department service area in which the proposed psychiatric medical institution for children would be located, the chief juvenile court officer of the judicial district in which the proposed psychiatric medical institution for children would be located and the applicant’s licensor from the department of inspections and appeals or department of public health.

       202.16(2) The department shall evaluate proposals and issue a decision based on the following criteria:

        a.           The number of psychiatric medical institutions for children beds for the proposed population which are needed in the area of the state in which the facility would be located, based on the department’s most recent needs assessment.

        b.           The steps the facility has taken towards achieving accreditation from a federally recognized accrediting organization and licensure as a psychiatric medical institution for children.

        c.           The applicant’s ability to provide services and support consistent with the requirements under Iowa Code chapter 232 including, but not limited to, evidence that:

       (1)             Children will be served in a setting which is in close proximity to their parents’ home.

       (2)             Each child will receive services consistent with the child’s best interests and special psychiatric needs as identified in the child’s case permanency plan.

       (3)             Children and their families will receive services to facilitate the children’s return home or other permanent placement.

        d.           The applicant’s ability to provide children with a non-hospital-type living environment if the applicant is not freestanding from a hospital or health care facility.

        e.           The limits on the number of beds found in Iowa Code section 135H.6, subsection 5.

       202.16(3) If a facility has not been licensed as a psychiatric medical institution for children within one year after the date of the department’s approval of need, the department’s approval shall expire unless the department has approved an extension. An extension may be approved up to a maximum of six months if the agency has documented extenuating circumstances which prevented completion of the licensing process.

This rule is intended to implement Iowa Code section 135H.6.