Iowa's Behavioral Health Service System

Join the Virtual Behavioral Health Service System District Launch on Tuesday, August 6 at 12:00pm!

Back to top

Iowa's Behavioral Health Service System

On May 15, 2024, House File 2673 was signed into law. Under this legislation, Iowa will: 

  1. Combine the work and funding for mental health and addictive disorders into a Behavioral Health Service System, guided by a statewide plan, focused on ensuring equitable access to prevention, treatment, recovery, and crisis services.  
  2. Transfer the management of disability services from the local Mental Health and Disability Services (MHDS) Regions to the Division of Aging & Disability Services. To focus on systems of support, care, and connection for all Iowans and families with disability-related needs, management activities will include identifying additional organizations to participate in the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) network and the creation of a disability services system.  
  3. Strengthen important system connections to Medicaid, Public Health, and Child Protective Services by gathering meaningful feedback from Iowans to inform system planning.

Using a shared responsibility model between HHS and system stakeholders, Iowans will build a Behavioral Health Service System that: 

  • Is well-coordinated with clear access points throughout behavioral health districts, 
  • Ensures that individuals and families have access to person-centered services and supports no matter where they live, 
  • Reduces duplication by linking Federal, State and local governance and authority, 
  • Eliminates administrative red-tape, and the same efforts happening in multiple places.  
  • Links funding to measurable outcomes. 

The new Behavioral Health Service System will start July 1, 2025

Back to top

Behavioral Health Districts

Behavioral health districts outline geographic boundaries for local coordination.  

In June and July 2024, HHS worked with Health Management Associates (HMA) to get public feedback for proposed district boundaries. A total of four public comment sessions were held; two virtual sessions and two in-person sessions in Des Moines and Sioux City. Written feedback was also collected from respondents through an online public comment form and via email.   

A summary report was created to show the breakdown of stakeholder representation and key themes from the public engagement process. Feedback from this work helped define seven districts that ensure fair resource distribution, workload balance, and access to care. The map of the seven behavioral health districts is available here. 

Local Coordination 

HHS will work with local Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BH-ASOs) to collaboratively coordinate and oversee services in each behavioral health district. Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations will be selected by December 31, 2024. 

In each district, BH-ASOs will: 

  • Ensure equitable access to comprehensive prevention, treatment, recovery, and crisis services for mental health and addiction (including alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and gambling). 
  • Connect and collaborate with local leaders and systems like schools, law enforcement, and public health to meet behavioral health needs. 
  • Provide information, referrals, and support to help Iowans navigate the behavioral health system. 
Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

Back to top

Resources

Behavioral Health District Map - Public Comment Resources: 

Back to top