Picture from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services PDF: Services Alignment Assessment Recommendations Summary
Governor Kim Reynolds signed House File 2673 into law today (Wednesday), becoming closer to aligning mental health and substance use regions into one behavioral health network. Currently, the state has 13 areas that provide mental health treatment and another 19 for treatment for substance use disorders. The behavioral health alignment aims to bring together all the services, avoid duplicate programs, and provide a more efficient system that better serves the individuals seeking treatment. Gov. Reynolds released this statement during the signing. “Today, we align Iowa’s 32 separate mental health and substance use service regions into one, unified behavioral health system, a plan I am proud to say the legislature passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. By bringing services together in this way, we will enable better care coordination, supporting the best possible outcomes for each individual. It’s what Iowans deserve, and it’s what we intend to deliver.” Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Director Kelly Garcia says each new district will have a lead agency and advisory board to maintain local connections. “Additionally, each district will be required to provide a standard set of core services, ensuring consistent care systemwide, with HHS defining district boundaries, required services, implement performance metrics and provide necessary oversight.” HHS is working on a timeline to complete the merging by the summer of next year.
