Iowa Code Title VI. Human Services [Chs. 216-255A] § 225C.16. Referrals for evaluation

1. The chief medical officer of a state mental health institute, or that officer's physician or physician assistant designee, provided that a physician assistant designee meets the qualifications set forth in the definition of a mental health professional in section 228.1, shall advise a person residing in that county who applies for voluntary admission, or a person applying for the voluntary admission of another person who resides in that county, in accordance with section 229.41, that the regional administrator for the county has implemented the policy stated in section 225C.14, and shall advise that a preliminary diagnostic evaluation of the prospective patient be sought, if that has not already been done. This subsection does not apply when voluntary admission is sought in accordance with section 229.41 under circumstances which, in the opinion of the chief medical officer or that officer's physician designee, constitute a medical emergency.

2. The clerk of the district court in that county shall refer a person applying for authorization for voluntary admission, or for authorization for voluntary admission of another person, in accordance with section 229.42, to the regional administrator for the person's county of residence under section 225C.14 for the preliminary diagnostic evaluation unless the applicant furnishes a written statement from the appropriate entity which indicates that the evaluation has been performed and that the person's admission to a state mental health institute is appropriate. This subsection does not apply when authorization for voluntary admission is sought under circumstances which, in the opinion of the chief medical officer or that officer's physician designee, constitute a medical emergency.

3. Judges of the district court in that county or the judicial hospitalization referee appointed for that county shall so far as possible arrange for the entity designated through the regional administrator under section 225C.14 to perform a prehearing examination of a respondent required under section 229.8, subsection 3, paragraph “b”.

4. The chief medical officer of a state mental health institute shall promptly submit to the appropriate entity designated through the regional administrator under section 225C.14 a report of the voluntary admission of a patient under the medical emergency provisions of subsections 1 and 2. The report shall explain the nature of the emergency which necessitated the admission of the patient without a preliminary diagnostic evaluation by the designated entity.