Mental Health and Disability Services Workgroups

Find information about the Inpatient Bed Tracking Study Committee; the Tertiary Care Psychiatric Hospitals Workgroup; the Commitment Process Review Workgroup; the Complex Service Needs Workgroup; and the Community Integration Workgroup.

Inpatient Bed Tracking Study Committee

2021 Senate File 524 directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to assemble a study committee (the Committee) consisting of representatives of DHS, the Iowa Hospital Association (IHA), a managed care association, law enforcement, a private payer of inpatient services, and a county mental health advocate. The Committee is charged with making policy recommendations for improvement in the inpatient bed tracking system, including but not limited to:

  • Expanding the acuity of disabilities a hospital or facility is able to accept in its program to include but not be limited to persons with certain mental disabilities, behavioral disabilities, and sexually or physically aggressive behaviors;

  • Increasing reimbursement rates based on the level of care provided; and

  • Implementing enhancements to the inpatient psychiatric bed tracking system to accept and report real-time electronic data from the state mental health institutes, hospitals, and subacute mental health care facilities participating in the system.

The Committee must submit a report to the General Assembly and the Governor by December 15, 2021. For a Zoom link to join the next (remote only) meeting on October 22 from 10 – 11 a.m., see the link to the agenda below.

Tertiary Care Psychiatric Hospitals Workgroup

House File 2456 charged the Department of Human Services to convene a stakeholder workgroup to review the role of tertiary care psychiatric hospitals in the array of mental health services and make recommendations for providing tertiary psychiatric services. The workgroup will include the Department of Inspections and Appeals, representative members of the Iowa Hospital Association, managed care organizations, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the mental health institutes, and other interested stakeholders. The Tertiary Care Psychiatric Hospitals Workgroup meetings are open to the public.

The workgroup will submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by November 30, 2018.

Commitment Process Review Workgroup

House File 2456 charged the Department of Human Services to convene a stakeholder workgroup to review the commitment process under Iowa Code Chapters 125 and 229 and make recommendations for improvements in the process and any amendments to law to increase efficiencies and more appropriately utilize the array of mental health and disability services available based upon an individual’s needs. The workgroup will include the Department of Public Health, representative members of the judicial branch, the Iowa Hospital Association, the Iowa Medical Society, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Iowa State Sheriffs’ and Deputies’ Association, Iowa Behavioral Health Association, and other interested stakeholders. The Commitment Process Review Workgroup meetings are open to the public.

The workgroup will submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly by December 31, 2018.

Complex Service Needs Workgroup

In 2017, the Complex Service Needs Workgroup was convened to make recommendations relating to the delivery of, access to, and coordination and continuity of mental health, disability, and substance use disorder services and supports for individuals with mental health, disability, and substance use disorder needs, particularly for individuals with complex mental health, disability, and substance use disorder needs. The workgroup included representatives from community mental health centers, Iowa Department of Public Health, Iowa Hospital Association, judicial system, law enforcement agencies, Mental Health and Disability Services Regions, National Alliance on Mental Illness, substance use disorder treatment providers and other related stakeholder groups.

The workgroup submitted their final report with recommendations to the Governor and General Assembly on December 15, 2017.

  • Complex Service Needs Workgroup Power Point (February 2018)

  • Complex Service Needs Workgroup Report (December 2017)

  • Member List

  • 2017 Meeting Schedule

  • 2017 Meeting Agendas, Minutes, and Materials

  • Complex Service Needs Regional Community Plans