Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 230.15 (2026)

Personal liability

✓ current as of July 2026

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1. A person with mental illness and a person legally liable for the person’s support remain liable for the support of the person with mental illness as provided in this section. Persons legally liable for the support of a person with mental illness include the spouse of the person, and any person bound by contract for support of the person. The liability incurred by a person with mental illness or a person legally liable for the person’s support under this section is limited to an amount equal to one hundred percent of the cost of care and treatment of the person with mental illness at a state mental health institute for one hundred twenty days of hospitalization. This limit of liability may be reached by payment of the cost of care and treatment of the person with mental illness subsequent to a single admission or multiple admissions to a state mental health institute. After reaching this limit of liability, a person with mental illness or a person legally liable for the person’s support is liable to the state for the care and treatment of the person with mental illness at a state mental health institute in an amount not to exceed the average minimum cost of the maintenance of an individual who is physically and mentally healthy residing in the individual’s own home as established by the department by rule.

2. A person with a substance use disorder is legally liable for the total amount of the cost of providing care, maintenance, and treatment for the person with a substance use disorder while a voluntary or committed patient. When a portion of the cost is paid by an administrative services organization, the person with a substance use disorder is legally liable to the administrative services organization for the amount paid. The person with a substance use disorder shall assign any claim for reimbursement under any contract of indemnity, by insurance or otherwise, providing for the person’s care, maintenance, and treatment in a state mental health institute to the state.

3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a relative or other person from voluntarily paying the full actual cost or any portion of the care and treatment of any person with mental illness or a substance use disorder as established by the department. [R60, §1488; C73, §1433; C97, §2297; C24, 27, 31, 35, 39, §3595; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, 75, 77, 79, 81, §230.15; 82 Acts, ch 1260, §114 – 116] 83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 86 Acts, ch 1001, §17; 90 Acts, ch 1085, §21; 96 Acts, ch 1129, §60; 2011 Acts, ch 121, §57, 62; 2013 Acts, ch 30, §43; 2018 Acts, ch 1137, §9; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §560; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §94, 137 Referred to in §234.39, 331.502 2024 amendment to subsections 1 and 2 effective July 1, 2025; 2024 Acts, ch 1161, §137 Subsections 1 and 2 amended \n

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases, 1954–2005 · leading case: Michel Ex Rel. Michel v. State Bd. of Soc. Welfare, 65 N.W.2d 89 (Iowa 1954).

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Michel Ex Rel. Michel v. State Bd. of Soc. Welfare, 65 N.W.2d 89 (Iowa 1954). · cites it 7× “The state has since his commitment charged the cost of his support to this county, which in turn, under section 230.15, Code of Iowa, 1950, has attempted to collect it from the plaintiffs John Michel and Ella Marie Michel, his parents.”

Credit Bureau Enter., Inc. v. Pelo, 608 N.W.2d 20 (Iowa 2000). · cites it 2× “A county paying such costs, however, could seek reimbursement from the patient or from persons liable for the patient’s support pursuant to Iowa Code section 230.15. Additionally, Iowa Code section 227.”

Counts v. Hosp. Employees, Inc., 518 N.W.2d 358 (Iowa 1994). · cites it 2× “Not applicable here is an exception (which is in turn limited by statute—Iowa Code § 230.15) for disabled adult children.”

In Re Est. of Frentress, 89 N.W.2d 367 (Iowa 1958). · cites it 3× “Section 230.15 states, “Insane persons and persons legally liable for their support shall remain liable for the support of such insane.”

Emmet Cnty. Bd. of Supervisors v. Ridout, 692 N.W.2d 821 (Iowa 2005). · cites it 2× “§ 230.15. Sections 230.25 through 230.27 contain the procedures for the county to obtain reimbursement from the patient or a person legally liable for the patient’s support.”

Linn Cnty. v. Kopecky, 489 N.W.2d 416 (Iowa Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 12× “The parties stipulated to the facts and agreed that section 230.15 established liability on decedent for part of the cost of her care.”

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