Senate Committee OKs amendment, advances bill to modernize geropsychiatric admissions

Chair Judy Lee and members of the Senate Human Services Committee advanced Senate Bill 2081 on a unanimous voice vote after brief testimony and a narrowly focused amendment.

Pam Segnus, executive director of behavioral health at the Department of Health and Human Services, told the committee the bill would amend language in “chapter 50‑24.4‑29 regarding gero psychiatric facilities to align language to current process.” She said the department asked to remove the requirement that the North Dakota State Hospital perform an evaluation of every individual before admission to a gero‑psychiatric unit so “we avoid unnecessary evaluations by the North Dakota State Hospital” and to allow transfers directly when a person already has an evaluation from another provider.

The department also asked the committee to strike language “that prohibits the North Dakota State Hospital from offering gero psychiatric services through a unit set up exclusively to provide these services,” Pam Segnus said, explaining the change would let the department be responsive if private‑sector capacity became insufficient.

Why it matters: Committee members and providers said the changes would reflect current practice and reduce redundant steps that can delay placement or care. The change also preserves a priority pathway from the State Hospital while clarifying that the department does not control day‑to‑day admissions at private facilities.

Providers and advocates who testified spoke in support. Nikki Wagner, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, said geropsychiatric units serve residents who require both skilled nursing and psychiatric care and described the three private gero‑psych units in the state (two 16‑bed units and one 20‑bed unit). Amy Crite, administrator at St. Luke’s Home in Dickinson, described her facility’s 20‑bed gero‑psych unit and said most residents come from the state hospital; she told the committee these units often serve as “home” for residents and operate at high occupancy.

Protection and Advocacy offered a comment urging the committee to keep home‑ and community‑based services available and to ensure less‑restrictive options are considered before institutional placements.

Amendment and votes: Senator Rorick moved the department’s amendment clarifying that admissions from the North Dakota State Hospital will be given first priority while noting the department “does not generally oversee the admissions of the facilities.” Senator Hogan seconded the amendment. The roll call recorded Senators Lee, Weston, Rohrs, Hogan, Van Osteen and Clemens voting in favor; the amendment passed 6–0. The committee then voted to pass SB 2081 as amended on a unanimous recorded voice vote.

Discussion vs. decision: The committee debated statutory language and operational detail but adopted the department’s amendment and voted the bill out of committee. The action was procedural (do pass as amended) and did not invoke a floor date or broader fiscal action in the hearing record.

Community details and operational context: Testimony identified three private gero‑psych units in North Dakota with bed sizes described (two 16‑bed units and one 20‑bed unit) and described typical referral pathways (majority from the North Dakota State Hospital, some from VA or acute care). Administrators described lengthy average stays and explained operational constraints that shape admissions practices.

Where things stand: SB 2081 passed the Senate Human Services Committee as amended and will move forward per the Legislature’s rules. The committee did not adopt additional amendments or set aside the bill; no fiscal motion or detailed implementation timeline was adopted during the hearing.

Ending: Committee members praised the technical fix and urged continued attention to matching statutory language with current practice as behavioral health services evolve.