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What is the Behavioral Health Service System?
On May 15, 2024, a new law (House File 2673) was signed. This law combines mental health and substance use services into one system, now called the Behavioral Health Service System. This new system starts on July 1, 2025, and will make it easier for mental health and substance use providers to help Iowans get the care they need, no matter where they go for help.
List items for BH System Alignment Overview
- 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 (495.22 KB) .pdf (map) are structured to promote fair distribution of resources, balanced workloads, and consistent access to care across the state.
Where should I call about services?
Know someone affected by gambling, mental health, substance use or a related problem? Looking for help for yourself? Call Your Life Iowa 24/7 at 855-581-8111.
Behavioral Health Statewide Service System Plan
The Behavioral Health Statewide Service System Plan (4.13 MB) .pdf is Iowa’s guide to improving behavioral health services across the state. It was created with input from local communities and experts. The plan focuses on solving important problems and making sure everyone in Iowa can get the care they need.
Have questions about Iowa's Behavioral Health Service System?
See our FAQ webpage for regularly updated questions and answers or submit a question to our Behavioral Health Feedback Form.
Information for Providers & Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
List items for Information for Providers & Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
The Iowa PCA encourages providers and partners supporting behavioral health services in Iowa to complete a Provider Profile.
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.
Iowa HHS and the Iowa PCA have developed a Provider & Partner Toolkit to help educate providers and partners about changes to the Behavioral Health Statewide System starting July 1, 2025.
Safety Net Management Information System (SNMIS)
Updated fee schedules are located in the SNMIS Billing Guide
Have questions about SNMIS? See our FAQs on SNMIS billing
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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.
Providers with questions related to Behavioral Health and Disability Services, including SNMIS assistance, may continue to reach out directly at:
All Behavioral Health and Disability Service providers must register in the new SNMIS claim reimbursement system as soon as possible to ensure they are ready to submit claims beginning July 1, 2025.
To register, follow these steps:
- To submit claims for services through SNMIS, providers must be enrolled and in good standing with Iowa Medicaid, and any applicable licensing or accreditation bodies. Information on enrolling with Iowa Medicaid can be found here: Medicaid Provider Enrollment.
- Enrollment in Iowa Medicaid will not automatically give you access to billing claims in SNMIS. Iowa Medicaid enrolled providers MUST register with Electronic Data Interchange Support Services (EDISS) for the SNMIS line of business.
Important note: If you are using a vendor for electronic claim submission, the vendor will be required to update their registration in the EDISS to select the SNMIS line of business. A vendor will not be available for selection in the vendor search when adding transactions unless that vendor has the SNMIS line of business selected in their vendor account. Providers will be directed to go back to the vendor advising that the SNMIS line of business needs to be selected. If the Vendor needs assistance, they can contact the EDI Call Center.
Claim form instructions and billing procedures can be found in the SNMIS Companion Guide. (304.66 KB) .pdf
Have questions about SNMIS? See our FAQs on SNMIS billing
Community Based Organizations - Contract Guidance
Iowa HHS and Iowa PCA (BH-ASO) have worked together to develop a document that contains Contract Guidance for Community Based Organizations (organizations contracting with Iowa PCA for behavioral health services). A shift in the language was made from "provider" to "Community Based Organization" as not all organizations that support the Behavioral Health Service System identify as providers. CBOs is an umbrella term inclusive of providers and will be used through the Contract Guidance document.
This document provides operational guidance for Community Based Organizations implementing services under the redesigned behavioral health infrastructure. It is intended to clarify roles, define expectations, and align service delivery with the statewide vision outlined in the Iowa Behavioral Health Service System Statewide Plan. Additional guidance in the form of program manuals will be provided dependent upon the needs of the contract as a part of the Behavioral Health Service System implementation (post July 1).
List items for CBO Guidance
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
- Tobacco Prevention Manual (778.39 KB) .pdf
- Purchase Approval Request Form (168.23 KB) .docx
- Tobacco Prevention Materials Order Form (1.38 MB) .docx
- Coalition Meeting Report (170.75 KB) .docx
- Tobacco Prevention Guidance (694.9 KB) .pdf
- Tobacco Prevention Action Plan (178.73 KB) .docx
- Tobacco Prevention Budget (172.49 KB) .docx
Substance Use and Problem Gambling
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 Clinics (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.
PATH
- Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH) Guidance (508.72 KB) .pdf
- PATH Data Support Documents (169.8 KB) .docx
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
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.
Information for Counties
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Official Letter for Counties from Iowa HHS (111.37 KB) .pdf
- MHDS Region Close Out Guidance (144.7 KB) .pdf
- Behavioral Health & Disability Services Systems County FAQ (180.22 KB) .pdf
- SFY24 County Admin and Employee Expenditures (27.84 KB) .xlsx
Behavioral Health Town Halls
Past Behavioral Health Town Hall Materials
List items for Past Behavioral Health Town Hall Materials
January 2025
- Presentation (686.65 KB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: yS$^.X2@
February 2025
- Presentation (5.15 MB) .pptx
- Recording
- Passcode: *a7PKqEE
March 2025
- Presentation (880.31 KB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: S9x1%wi*
April 2025
- Presentation (1.67 MB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: Zc?c.ak6
May 2025
- Presentation (587.92 KB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: 9Q@h6mOy
June 2025
- Iowa PCA Contracting Town Hall
- Presentation (1.15 MB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: B4$kMGBp
- Behavioral Health Town Hall
- Presentation (1.2 MB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: 0S3L?knP
July 2025
- Presentation (2.19 MB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: A8m^!L2L
September 2025
- Presentation (1.65 MB) .pdf
- Recording
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October 2025
- Presentation (2.7 MB) .pdf
- Recording
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November 2025
- Presentation (2.06 MB) .pdf
- Recording
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February 2026
- Presentation (1.47 MB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: 6gL&U@m$
January 2026
- Presentation (3.44 MB) .pdf
- Recording
- Passcode: Yt@3=#Gk
Additional Information
List items for BH System Alignment Additional Information
- 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 (558.98 KB) .pdf 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 (13.53 MB) .pdf
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.
Watch the recording of the July 8th virtual session of the Behavioral Health Public Hearing.