Governor Signs Merger of Mental Health, Substance Abuse Treatment Regions

Governor Reynolds has signed a bill into law that will create a new, merged system to provide mental health services and substance use treatment to Iowans.

The state currently has 13 regions to provide mental health treatment and another 19 regions to serve people with substance use disorders.

Seven Behavioral Health Districts will be established. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia says they’re working on the timeline to complete the merger by mid-2025.

Reynolds signed the bill at Foundation 2 Crisis Services in Cedar Rapids. Emily Bloome, the CEO of the organization, says the merger is a step in the right direction.

The law gives the state authority to manage the unified system and state officials may choose a public or a private agency to lead each of the seven districts.

story courtesy of Radio Iowa