St. Alexius seeks $16 million from state to add inpatient behavioral health beds under House Bill 1468

Bismarck — St. Alexius Medical Center and Representative Glenn Bosch told the North Dakota House Human Services Committee that House Bill 1468 would appropriate funds to the Department of Health and Human Services to expand inpatient behavioral health capacity in central North Dakota.

Rep. Glenn Bosch, R‑Bismarck, introduced the bill and said the state “does not have an inpatient youth safety net service” and that the state hospital has no adolescent unit. “House Bill 1468 looks to create a partnership with an existing provider to help expand the services that our state is currently lacking,” he said.

The bill would establish a behavioral health facility grant. St. Alexius’ presenters said the hospital would build out a fourth‑floor inpatient behavioral health unit adjacent to its existing unit. Rami Kudruna, chief nurse executive at St. Alexius, told lawmakers…