Section 135.180. Mental health professional shortage area program.

  1.  For the purposes of this section, “mental health professional shortage areas” means geographic areas in this state that have been designated by the United States department of health and human services, health resources and services administration, bureau of health professionals, as having a shortage of mental health professionals.

  2.  The department shall establish and administer a mental health professional shortage area program in accordance with this section. Implementation of the program shall be limited to the extent of the funding appropriated or otherwise made available for the program.

  3.  The program shall provide stipends to support psychiatrist positions with an emphasis on securing and retaining medical directors at community mental health centers designated under chapter 230A and hospital psychiatric units that are located in mental health professional shortage areas.

  4.  The department shall apply the rules in determining the number and amounts of stipends within the amount of funding available for the program for a fiscal year.

  5.  For each fiscal year in which funding is allocated by the program, the department shall report to the governor and general assembly summarizing the program’s activities and the impact made to address the shortage of mental health professionals.

2007 Acts, ch 218, §102

2011 Acts, ch 25, §80

2014 Acts, ch 1092, §158

; 2015 Acts, ch 69, §1

Subsection 3 amended