Next summer, Iowa is set to undergo a major overhaul of its mental health and substance abuse system. Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill earlier this year to merge the state’s 32 separate mental health and substance abuse regions into seven behavioral health districts. However, instead of having local input in these districts, the state has chosen the Iowa Primary Care Association to run all seven districts. This decision has raised concerns among advocates like Leslie Carpenter, who worry about the potential loss of behavioral health staff and the lack of local knowledge and resources in the new system.
According to Sarah Dixon with the Iowa Primary Care Association, the centralized administration with staff in each district will ensure that the unique needs of each district are being met. The ICPA is working to ensure a smooth transition and to provide support for local providers during this change. The Iowa Department of Human Services is finalizing a statewide behavioral health system plan, and the public will have a chance to offer feedback in January before the changes take effect.
Source
Photo credit www.kcrg.com
