[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6297412,"mediaKeyId","2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c","parentId",2510115,"title","Bill would loosen qualifications for state health officer; supporters say flexibility needed after agency merger","audioSeconds",301,"startMs",6784000,"endMs",7085000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c&start=6784&end=7085","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c/thumbnail_6784000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6297412/North-Dakota/Bill-would-loosen-qualifications-for-state-health-officer-supporters-say-flexibility-needed-after-agency-merger","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297412-db6405f79644626ea468e704802a16d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588099&Signature=CfA88Pt1gu0ljuUGMeRu4kPDaSYzhji9FdHagoPUgjwPeGR~wwH~tZMrJmY8ufr4q0S9VhOqMXjDRNelaFdc~fZI1oANFnc-7psqy9I7G4TQ8K8BWa1Bp4-uavyk-36CJ1m-CrJ7yCKo6A-gS91PeD2xgLJL4pEpY9PAuQMLsll9NyUsJxPrMgxym-61g2u0V3ifr6kcr4P~e-8e4KFbtWjG~xr0BSmz5R6eRdv7jKv7PgXlvWiDqC9O39WYRB2juBu6fq-wEVOezqf3J~U42qjtlFDLTS81QX4jJrJYmbydW3is235dk0GDNLtSRC3bi5b6OM77AK3yUHNu0TvNew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Dakota Legislature","date","2025-03-05T00:00:00Z","article","Connor Swanson, senior adviser to Gov. Kelly Armstrong, told the House Human Services Committee that Senate Bill 22‑55 would modernize the qualifications and appointment terms for the state health officer.

Under current law adopted during the 2021 session, the state health officer must be a physician with public health and administrative experience, serve a four‑year term and receive a statutory salary. Swanson said the 2022 merger of the Department of Health and the Department of Human Services left the state health officer with fewer direct reports and a largely advisory role, narrowing the pool of eligible candidates.

“This bill provides needed flexibility,” Swanson said, describing changes that would allow the governor to appoint a person with education, training or experience in public health (not necessarily a physician), set salary within appropriation limits, and make the officer serve at the governor’s pleasure. The bill also authorizes the DHHS commissioner to create an advisory committee to support the state health officer in technical matters; the draft specifies that an ad‑hoc advisory group would not be subject to open‑meeting requirements when convened informally.

Committee members asked about whether a formal review has been done since the merger; Swanson and staff said there has not been a formal assessment but the changes are intended to match the statutory job description to current practice. No members registered opposition and the hearing was closed with no immediate committee vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Human Services 03/05/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 22‑55 would remove the statutory requirement that the state health officer be a physician and allow the governor greater flexibility in appointment, pay and term length. Supporters said the change reflects the office’s advisory role following the 2022 DHHS merger.","taxTitle","Human Services, House of Representatives, Legislative, North Dakota","taxId",28893,"location","North Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6297415,"Committee approves due‑pass recommendations on three bills; roll calls recorded",77,6800000,6877000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c&start=6800&end=6877","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c/thumbnail_6800000.jpg","/articles/6297415/North-Dakota/Committee-approves-duepass-recommendations-on-three-bills-roll-calls-recorded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297415-82199934df7c8a3bc29f40fe112bfc44/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588099&Signature=e2iOS6LFRP~HDw8leiJMvbh4zcxfUTmC6BQv21eI8A1gNkuhTyRIhy3SxEA7DyOIqVxfZbSIQwaF96kCUKDfgtNeAvkiVmf0jSk9A1p~T6dVzCL0aVghDj4409FSOwFTGKlwRXj6e1bUYlaDlkWLhIjLbzILGCrRVyOzp5i1WhLRGQY7NdKD4yzn7Z~8ZOSQI9tpBRSFXvi18VitcjcgfFpvQz3BjK2XdiLWgwH6qRTMLFVRE0cOm4YZ0OD8GSrWKHCNgSLOUEJcOxvwJRVZj51fJsb8Bq5tLuU2evac7GKKBKt743YBYOCKvjtnlEB9wrEDg5h2cFn6yXPy8zjeDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","After hearings, the committee moved three bills forward by voice and roll call votes.

- Senate Bill 20‑79: Representative Fralick moved a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Hawley seconded. The roll call recorded 11 yeas, 0 nays and 2 absent. Motion carried.

- Senate Bill 20‑40: Representative Anderson moved a due‑pass recommendation; Representative Balinski seconded. The roll call recorded 11 yeas, 0 nays and 2 absent. Motion carried.

- Senate Bill 21‑64: Representative Belz moved a due‑pass recommendation; a second was recorded. The roll call recorded 13 yeas and 0 nays (do pass). Motion carried; Representative Holly agreed to carry the bill.

Each motion was called by the clerk and individual members’ responses were recorded on the roll. Committee chairmanships announced bill carriers for the approved measures. No debate extended beyond clarifying questions during the roll calls.","The House Human Services Committee voted to give a \"do pass\" recommendation to Senate Bills 20‑79, 20‑40 and 21‑64 during Monday’s session. Roll calls produced unanimous or near‑unanimous results and bill carriers were identified for each measure.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6297416,"Committee hears updates to ND geropsychiatric facility law; supporters say changes align process, advocates urge community services",1092,164000,1256000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c&start=164&end=1256","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c/thumbnail_164000.jpg","/articles/6297416/North-Dakota/Committee-hears-updates-to-ND-geropsychiatric-facility-law-supporters-say-changes-align-process-advocates-urge-community-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297416-e747eb73facb41697daeb8e2c74d6bb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588099&Signature=cDwDxSuLNcILdPjydIFYAMFBTqCI2Y4ndrsJi3Sc5~IIsIovf9sRMzaGIkEHBuPzw9O8HEB6UQPMA9IytD7aMMIQumnd6r7oPBzjDXKpUuuesYxR31mfJC8z-KfAF9VMNDlsSBUBnczt7~1HHjPGo9xkfQwmjcyAxqULHao-fUQSuoSnEQvNmOCP5PyPaGoaABYUvEPSDyyAH-sKZG4P-eOIIYcA9DSdRIhc-bn-Bgp5MWd0qd6x1GaxLHONYQCyeJVPH7z4p4oKX4~Ha83dClyxSZFdcrxkgsk26yqh5Qatzx5K1PqhW5vpHYKqJH3y9RNmVlAVBghsCWcMvEyFXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chairman Ruby opened a hearing on Senate Bill 20‑81, which would amend North Dakota Century Code Chapter 50‑24.4‑29 to update admission and service rules for geropsychiatric facilities in skilled nursing homes.

Pam Sagness, Executive Director of Behavioral Health at the Department of Health and Human Services, said the bill removes a statutory requirement that the North Dakota State Hospital always perform an admission evaluation for patients heading to gero‑psychiatric units. “By removing this language, it allows the avoidance of unnecessary evaluations by the North Dakota State Hospital,” Sagness said, adding that the change lets a qualified provider’s assessment permit direct transfer and prioritizes state hospital referrals when openings exist.

Sagness said the department also asked to remove language that barred the state hospital from offering general psychiatric services through a unit established for those services, explaining the change would let the state respond if private‑sector capacity is lacking. She noted demographic trends — “in 2024, 15.86 percent of North Dakotans were age 65 and older” — and said the department is working with the Long Term Care Association to clarify admission criteria.

Nikki Wagner, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, testified in support and described the bill as modernizing outdated language and clarifying that patients do not need to be admitted to the state hospital before consideration for a gero‑psychiatric nursing unit. Wagner said these units require both skilled nursing and psychiatric services and that existing payment systems are essentially the same for those patients.

Pam Sagness and other witnesses said the need for gero‑psychiatric capacity is high and that recruiting qualified providers and arranging psychiatric consultation and training are major implementation tasks.

Denise Harvey, director of program services for general psychiatric services, representing Protection & Advocacy (P&A), testified in opposition to aspects of the bill. Harvey urged that individuals and families be consulted about the full continuum of care before nursing home placement and said some people eligible for gero‑psychiatric units have successfully received home‑ and community‑based services (HCBS). P&A recommended strengthening community alternatives and argued the bill’s language could increase reliance on institutional care; the group suggested adding a moratorium limiting the number of gero‑psychiatric units.

Committee members pressed for clarifications. Representative Rohrer asked whether removing the bar on the state hospital offering general psychiatric services would allow the hospital to compete with private providers; Sagness said the change would only allow the state to fill gaps — for example, when individuals with certain criminal‑justice histories cannot find a skilled nursing placement. On age criteria, Sagness said the working group is evaluating whether language should reflect that some people under 65 (even in their 30s or 40s) may need gero‑psychiatric services.

No formal committee action was taken during the hearing.","House committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 20‑81 to modernize admission rules for gero‑psychiatric units in skilled nursing facilities. DHHS and long‑term care providers supported the bill; Protection & Advocacy urged building community services and limiting institutional expansion.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6297417,"Senate Bill 2096 would fund regional psychiatric beds, supporters say; opponents urge balanced investment",5079,1561000,6640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c&start=1561&end=6640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2510115-a70f7c8fd281530571f34889199cd92c/thumbnail_1561000.jpg","/articles/6297417/North-Dakota/Senate-Bill-2096-would-fund-regional-psychiatric-beds-supporters-say-opponents-urge-balanced-investment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6297417-97bd0492decb6c005ac40b4447cb9503/orig.mp4?Expires=1773588099&Signature=f~uVcaiUT3TH4B5TFuAtx2SBTRWEh9RL4DwarU5~GsDhYc-AkRYqRGciuVRoftAaAGjFG4zTCM88~1naxwxkPyUVhYa4L2xZhMGONe4ImwdTf5IP9MDuPLwviVu0KOo5~1KusOtunkiCZcoStTwKZ3W8JMtCT13UUmLnLufxU2aeIwo-yDz5~XohlULPM5skjI2hSDgucSO5JNqNa2nQL19XIxTDlBSVZ6epXSkYIFeGmL6rE5XaP645x0~OWoLRqTp6uBjOv5GZWArWnqYGv1e5Es7J42x9RYOECbg68B1OyjNFud2~CT~ne7jc43I3nbxrbAmpGZWlVaRd4ixg-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Tim Mathern, D‑District 11, urged the House Human Services Committee on Monday to support Senate Bill 20‑96, a plan to distribute grants for regional acute psychiatric treatment and residential supportive housing across the state’s four quadrants. Mathern said the original Senate Human Resources plan proposed $64 million but was reduced by the Senate appropriations committee to $16 million to meet appropriation targets.

Mathern told the committee the bill would let the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) award grants to build or modernize facilities where local need exists — for example, $2.5 million to finish a hospital psychiatric unit in Williston, and potential projects in Minot and Grand Forks. Mathern said grants would require any recipient to operate behavioral health facilities for at least 10 years.

“Decentralized care is supported by research,” Mathern said, adding that local facilities connect patients to family and community resources that aid recovery. He described the bill as complementary to other reforms including certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) and a Medicaid plan amendment aimed at growing capacity.

Clinical psychologist Dr. Stefan Padraigula of Minot, testifying in support, argued regional residential options and hospital wards within community hospitals would be cheaper and more effective than building a single large new state hospital. “If you need emergency immediate hospitalization, you need it now,” Padraigula said, describing long transports and delays he has encountered in rural calls.

Student and systems‑focused testimony from Madison Hansen and organizational testimony from Carlotta McClary of Mental Health America of North Dakota framed the bill as an evidence‑based step toward community‑rooted care. Hansen cited studies and local court concerns about lengthy waits and repeated hospitalizations that, she said, reflect a system struggling to provide community alternatives.

Opposition witnesses and DHHS staff urged caution. Representative John Nelson and Pam Sagness, Executive Director of Behavioral Health at DHHS, told the committee DHHS already contracts with multiple hospitals for acute inpatient care, reimbursing nearly 6,000 hospital bed‑days per year and funding expansions in Bismarck (CHI) and Grand Forks (Altru). Sagness also said the state hospital functions as a safety net for patients private hospitals will not serve — including civilly committed forensic patients and others with long average stays in specialized programs.

Nelson and Sagness noted the House already recommended a new state hospital project at roughly $330 million to replace aging facilities and preserve specialized services. Nelson described a 61‑bed plan for the new facility and said building a new state hospital and investing in community services were complementary, not mutually exclusive.

Several witnesses warned about the federal IMD (institution for mental disease) exclusion and Medicaid funding limits if new stand‑alone inpatient facilities exceed 16 beds. Mental Health Advocacy Network cautioned that expanding IMD‑style institutions without careful Medicaid planning could divert funds away from community services.

Committee members asked about workforce and sustainability. Mathern and Padraigula acknowledged recruiting clinicians to rural facilities will be difficult and said regional anchors in larger cities could partner with nearby smaller communities. Padraigula described recent efforts to expand psychiatric residency training as part of a broader workforce strategy.

The hearing closed with no vote on the bill. Committee members were left to weigh the tradeoffs between targeted regional grants, the larger state hospital replacement proposal, workforce constraints, IMD funding limits, and the ongoing CCBHC expansion already funded in the department’s budget.","A hearing on Senate Bill 20‑96 drew competing views on whether $16 million in grants should be used to build regional acute psychiatric and residential supportive housing or whether the state should instead prioritize a new state hospital and sustained community services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would loosen qualifications for state health officer; supporters say flexibility needed after agency merger

Committee approves due‑pass recommendations on three bills; roll calls recorded

Committee hears updates to ND geropsychiatric facility law; supporters say changes align process, advocates urge community services

Senate Bill 2096 would fund regional psychiatric beds, supporters say; opponents urge balanced investment