Iowa is launching a major overhaul of its behavioral health system on Tuesday. It’s designed to make mental health and substance use care more consistent and accessible statewide.The overhaul comes after a law passed last year that restructured how the state provides mental health, substance use and disability services. Under the new model, Iowa is moving from 32 separate mental health and disability service regions to seven larger behavioral health districts.“The goal of this system is that regardless of where you live at, you get the same level of care,” said Zach Rhein, director of the state’s Aging and Disability Services Division.While the structure is changing, officials say Iowans currently receiving services shouldn’t notice a difference in the care they get.“For individuals who are currently receiving services, the hope is that they don’t notice anything and those services continue,” Rhein said.For providers, the new system is expected to reduce paperwork and simplify operations.“They don’t any longer have multiple contracts to multiple entities,” said Marissa Eyanson, the state’s Behavioral Health Division Director. “They have one. They don’t have multiple reporting directions. They have one.”Eyanson said the new approach is more unified and aims to fix a gap that’s long existed across Iowa. “What we really lacked was a statewide system that had consistency,” she said.Part of the new system includes adding behavioral health system navigators across the state. Through Your Life Iowa — a free, 24/7 phone and online service — Iowans can connect with navigators who will help them find resources for mental illness, substance use, problem gambling or tobacco and nicotine dependence.“If they’re not even sure if they need help yet, we want them to know that there’s a safe place to go, that they can reach out and just get the help and support that they need,” Eyanson said.Public feedback is also a required part of the new system. Eyanson said this is an intentional part of state law to make sure the services meet the needs of Iowans.“All Iowans are at the table with us. We’ve built a shared responsibility model that says that it isn’t just us making a decision, but that we have to engage with our public, with the providers themselves, and with anyone who has an interest to make sure that the systems that are built are actually serving the people who need it most,” she said.The new behavioral health system also places a stronger focus on prevention and early intervention. Officials note these changes only apply to state-funded services and will not affect Medicaid or Medicaid waivers.» Subscribe to KCCI's YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
DES MOINES, Iowa —
Iowa is launching a major overhaul of its behavioral health system on Tuesday. It’s designed to make mental health and substance use care more consistent and accessible statewide.
The overhaul comes after a law passed last year that restructured how the state provides mental health, substance use and disability services. Under the new model, Iowa is moving from 32 separate mental health and disability service regions to seven larger behavioral health districts.
“The goal of this system is that regardless of where you live at, you get the same level of care,” said Zach Rhein, director of the state’s Aging and Disability Services Division.
While the structure is changing, officials say Iowans currently receiving services shouldn’t notice a difference in the care they get.
“For individuals who are currently receiving services, the hope is that they don’t notice anything and those services continue,” Rhein said.
For providers, the new system is expected to reduce paperwork and simplify operations.
“They don’t any longer have multiple contracts to multiple entities,” said Marissa Eyanson, the state’s Behavioral Health Division Director. “They have one. They don’t have multiple reporting directions. They have one.”
Eyanson said the new approach is more unified and aims to fix a gap that’s long existed across Iowa. “What we really lacked was a statewide system that had consistency,” she said.
Part of the new system includes adding behavioral health system navigators across the state. Through Your Life Iowa — a free, 24/7 phone and online service — Iowans can connect with navigators who will help them find resources for mental illness, substance use, problem gambling or tobacco and nicotine dependence.
“If they’re not even sure if they need help yet, we want them to know that there’s a safe place to go, that they can reach out and just get the help and support that they need,” Eyanson said.
Public feedback is also a required part of the new system. Eyanson said this is an intentional part of state law to make sure the services meet the needs of Iowans.
“All Iowans are at the table with us. We’ve built a shared responsibility model that says that it isn’t just us making a decision, but that we have to engage with our public, with the providers themselves, and with anyone who has an interest to make sure that the systems that are built are actually serving the people who need it most,” she said.
The new behavioral health system also places a stronger focus on prevention and early intervention. Officials note these changes only apply to state-funded services and will not affect Medicaid or Medicaid waivers.
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» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play
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