Iowa's Behavioral Health Service System

• There is no wrong door to accessing mental health and substance use services.
• No matter where you are in Iowa, you can get the help you need.
• The Administrative Service Organization (ASO), Iowa Primary Care Association, will handle tasks on the backend that make it easier for behavioral health providers to focus on giving quality care. 

Nothing will change for Iowans who have Medicaid or private insurance, services and providers will stay the same. Iowans who do not have insurance or very limited insurance will be able to get help through the Behavioral Health Service System.  All Iowans can use Your Life Iowa to get support through calls, texts, or chats. Behavioral Health System Navigators will guide people to the right care and services. 

A "safety net provider" is a healthcare provider, like a certified community behavioral health clinic (CCBHC), community mental health center (CMHC), community health center (CHC), or public hospital, that helps people with low income or no insurance. These providers offer care even if someone can’t pay. 

• Prevention, education, and early intervention of mental health and addictive disorders, including but not limited to alcohol use, substance use, tobacco use, and problem gambling.
• Crisis services for Iowans who need help right away
• Services to support individuals' recovery
• Outpatient treatment for mental health and addictive disorders
• High-intensity treatment for serious needs
• Alternatives to hospital care
• Inpatient and residential treatment
• Help for people involved in the justice system 

System Navigation is a process that helps individuals understand and access the services they need. System Navigators help Iowans by: 

• Educating them on available services and options
• Helping schedule appointments
• Connecting to support groups and other resources
• Helping to address barriers to care and troubleshoot when access is challenging 

Anyone can use the System Navigation—there are no rules about who qualifies. 

Behavioral health districts are defined geographic areas established to support the local coordination of services. The seven districts (map) are structured to promote fair distribution of resources, balanced workloads, and consistent access to care across the state. 

The Iowa PCA encourages providers and partners supporting behavioral health services in Iowa to complete a Provider Profile by May 16, 2025.

This Provider Profile will help the Iowa PCA build a provider network directory and ensure accurate information about providers interested in contracting to provide services to support the continuum in Iowa's Behavioral Health Service System, including Prevention, Early Intervention, Treatment, Recovery, and Crisis services.

This form can also be found under BH-ASO on www.iowapca.org and providers can also email bhasoproviderrelations@iowapca.org to communicate with the Iowa PCA. 

The SNMIS Billing and Companion Guides are designed to support your successful use of the SNMIS platform for filing claims for SUPTRS, Behavioral Health, and Non-Medicaid LTSS Disability Services.

• SNMIS Billing Guide
• SNMIS Companion Guide 

To further support your transition, SNMIS Office Hours will begin June 18 and will be held Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. through August 20. These virtual sessions will have a panel of subject matter experts from Iowa HHS to help answer questions and troubleshoot issues related to the SNMIS. 

• Office Hours Meeting Link: https://www.zoomgov.com/j/1617121151
• Meeting ID: 161 712 1151  

For questions related to SNMIS, please reach out to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) at: 

• For SUPTRS and Behavioral Health: bhassistance@hhs.iowa.gov
• For Non-Medicaid LTSS Disability Services: dsassistance@hhs.iowa.gov

The current prevention network includes prevention services primarily focused on substance use, gambling and tobacco. The two sections here are Tobacco Prevention contracts and Substance Use and Problem Gambling Prevention contracts. 

• Tobacco Prevention   
• Substance Use and Problem Gambling Prevention

Treatment is defined as clinical outpatient, inpatient and residential care for individuals with behavioral health disorder/s. The two sections here are Systems of Care contracts and Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) contracts. 

• Systems of Care 
• Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC)

Recovery is defined as non-clinical support that promotes recovery, wellness and connection. Recovery can also mean the process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. The two sections here are Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) contracts and Peer Operated Organizations contracts. 

• Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
• Peer Operated Organizations

Crisis is defined as community-based services that focus on the immediate de-escalation and relief of the distress associated with a behavioral health crisis. The section here is Crisis Services contracts. 

• Crisis Services

Access funds, as defined by Iowa Administrative Rules 441—300.1(225A), means funding provided to a behavioral health safety net provider by a behavioral health administrative services organization to support enhanced service delivery, maintain access to services, and fund other necessary expenses that fall outside of the scope and payment structures of other available funding. The section here focuses on the allowable activities for Access Funds. 

• Access Funds

• 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.
• An overview of the map development process was provided via webinar in August 2024. 

On December 13, 2024, Iowa HHS announced the selection of the Iowa Primary Care Association (Iowa PCA) to serve in a statewide capacity as the Administrative Service Organization for the state’s redesigned Behavioral Health System. Operational go-live for this new system remains on-track for July 1, 2025. 

Behavioral Health Administrative Service Organizations (BH-ASOs) are responsible for ensuring all Iowans have clear, consistent pathways to care and the support they need within each behavioral health district. They will do this by instilling a unified operational approach for each of the seven districts. Additionally, they will meet regularly with local leaders, school officials, law enforcement, health care providers and public health professionals to discuss behavioral health needs at a local level and ensure the state’s Behavioral Health Service System is adapting and meeting those needs.

• View the Iowa PCA presentation recording.
  • Passcode: s%=b*iW1
• View Iowa PCA's proposal

In January 2025, the Behavioral Health division hosted informational sessions on new and changed rules for the Behavioral Health Service System. Find the materials and recordings below.

• Behavioral Health Rules Presentation
• January 14, 2025 Recording
  • Passcode: %Xw.&5++

Watch the recording of the July 8th virtual session of the Behavioral Health Public Hearing.