Signed by Governor Terry Branstad

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that eliminates county mental health systems and establishes a statewide mental health system.

Highlights:

• Requires the state of Iowa to fund the nonfederal share of adult mental disability services paid by the Medicaid program, whereas existing law required counties to provide this funding (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the state to retain the following funding sources currently distributed to the counties for adult disability services (Sec. 1):
• Appropriations made for purposes of the mental health and developmental disabilities community services fund;
• Appropriations made for purposes of the allowed growth factor adjustment; and
• Appropriation made for the property tax relief fund.

• Requires the Department of Human Services to develop a plan to provide publicly funded disability services to adults in need that incorporates certain items including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 1):
• Eligibility criteria for the individuals to be served by the mental health system;
• The array of core services and support to be included in regional adult disability services plans;
• Desired outcomes;
• Quality assurance measures;
• Health care provider accreditation, certification, or licensure requirements; and
• A process to evaluate and resolve workforce shortage issues.

• Appropriates $250,000 from the general fund to the Department of Human Services for fiscal year 2010-2011 for planning costs associated with the implementation of this act (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text