The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS) is proud to announce the selection of 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.
“Last session we passed a historical behavioral health bill with overwhelming bipartisan support that will align Iowa’s 32 separate mental health and substance use service regions into one system,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “By bringing services together in this way, we will enable better coordination of care supporting the best possible outcomes for each individual. It’s what Iowans deserve, and it’s what we intend to deliver.”
The ASO is responsible for establishing a network of providers and ensuring that all Iowans have clear, consistent pathways to care and support they need. Alongside local leaders, school officials, law enforcement, health care providers and public health professionals, the ASO will develop and lead a unified operational approach for each district to meet distinct community needs.
“Iowa Primary Care Association is an established and trusted health care provider in the state and now, as the statewide ASO, they become the welcoming front door to individuals in need of behavioral health support and care” said Iowa HHS Director Kelly Garcia. “With an existing footprint embedded in communities across our state, and a comprehensive IT infrastructure to help streamline service delivery, Iowa PCA has demonstrated that they are uniquely qualified to fulfill the vision of this new system.”
“Iowa Primary Care Association embraces innovative delivery models of care and promises to expand that approach in order to provide a standard set of core services consistently systemwide,” said Iowa HHS Behavioral Health Division Director Marissa Eyanson. “In addition, Iowa PCA has laid out a robust plan to ensure continuity of services to Iowans throughout the transition period and into the launch of the new system.”
To learn more about the Behavioral Health Service System, visit https://hhs.iowa.gov/initiatives/system-alignment/behavioral-health-service-system