225C.6B - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT -- LEGISLATIVE INTENT -- PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. - Iowa Statutes

225C.6B MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT -- LEGISLATIVE INTENT -- PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. 1. Intent. a. The general assembly intends for the state to implement a comprehensive, continuous, and integrated state mental health services plan in accordance with the requirements of sections 225C.4 and 225C.6 and other provisions of this chapter, by increasing the department's responsibilities in the development, funding, oversight, and ongoing leadership of mental health services in this state. b. In order to further the purposes listed in sections 225C.1 and 225C.27 and in other provisions of this chapter, the general assembly intends that efforts focus on the goal of making available a comprehensive array of high-quality, evidence-based consumer and family-centered mental health services and other support in the least restrictive, community-based setting appropriate for a consumer. c. In addition, it is the intent of the general assembly to promote policies and practices that achieve for consumers the earliest possible detection of mental health problems and early intervention; to stress that all health care programs address mental health disorders with the same urgency as physical health disorders; to promote the policies of all public programs that serve adults and children with mental disorders, including but not limited to child welfare, Medicaid, education, housing, criminal and juvenile justice, substance abuse treatment, and employment services; to consider the special mental health needs of adults and children; and to promote recovery and resiliency as expected outcomes for all consumers. 2. Planning and implementation. In order to build upon the partnership between the state and counties in providing mental health and disability services in the state, the workgroups established for purposes of this subsection shall engage equal proportions representing the department, counties, and service providers. The county and provider representatives shall be appointed by the statewide associations representing counties and community providers. In addition, each workgroup shall include a representative of the commission, the mental health planning and advisory council, consumers, and a statewide advocacy organization. A workgroup shall be established for each of the following tasks provided for in this subsection: alternative distribution formulas, community mental health center plan, core mental health services, and the two comprehensive plan items. The division shall perform all of the following tasks in taking steps to improve the mental health services system for adults and children in this state: a. Alternative distribution formulas. Identify alternative formulas for distributing mental health, mental retardation, and developmental disabilities allowed growth factor adjustment funding to counties. The alternative formulas shall provide methodologies that, as compared to the current methodologies, are more readily understood, better reflect the needs for services, respond to utilization patterns, acknowledge historical county spending, and address disparities in funding and service availability. The formulas shall serve to strengthen the partnership between the department and counties in the state's services system. The division may engage assistance from expert consultants with experience with funding allocation systems as necessary to evaluate options. The department shall report with findings and recommendations to the commission on or before November 1, 2007, and shall review and make recommendations to the department on or before December 1, 2007. The department shall submit the final report to the chairpersons and ranking members of the general assembly's committees on human resources and the joint appropriations subcommittee on health and human services, and to associated legislative staff, on or before January 31, 2008. b. Community mental health center plan. Prepare a phased plan for increasing state responsibility for and oversight of mental health services provided by community mental health centers and the providers approved to fill the role of a center. The plan shall provide for an initial implementation date of July 1, 2008. The plan shall be submitted to the commission on or before October 1, 2007. The commission shall review the plan and provide comments to the department on or before November 1, 2007. The plan shall be submitted to the governor and general assembly on or before January 31, 2008. The department shall ensure that key stakeholders are engaged in the planning process, including but not limited to the commission, mental health services providers, individuals with expertise in the delivery of mental health services, youth and adult consumers, family members of consumers, advocacy organizations, and counties. c. Core mental health services. Identify core mental health services to be offered in each area of the state by community mental health centers and core services agency providers. The workgroup for this task shall be established no later than August 1, 2007. The core services shall be designed to address the needs of target populations identified by the workgroup and the services may include but are not limited to emergency services, school-based mental health services, short-term counseling, prescreening for those subject to involuntary treatment orders, and evidence-based practices. The division shall submit to the commission on or before October 1, 2007, proposed administrative rules and legislation to amend chapter 230A as necessary to implement the core services beginning July 1, 2008. The commission shall review and revise the proposed administrative rules and shall adopt the administrative rules after the general assembly has reviewed and approved the proposal. The proposals shall be submitted to the general assembly for review on or before January 31, 2008. d. Mental health and core service agency standards and accreditation. Identify standards for accreditation of core services agencies that are not a community mental health center but may serve as a provider approved to fill the role of a center. Such core services agencies could be approved to provide core mental health services for children and adults on a regional basis. The standards shall be submitted to the commission for review and recommendation on or before December 1, 2007, and to the governor and general assembly on or before January 31, 2008. e. Co-occurring disorders. The division and the department of public health shall give priority to the efforts underway to develop an implementation plan for addressing co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders in order to establish a comprehensive, continuous, and integrated system of care for such disorders. The division and the department of public health shall participate in a policy academy on co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders as part of developing an implementation plan for commission review by April 1, 2008. The commission shall review and make recommendations on the plan on or before May 1, 2008. The plan shall then be submitted to the governor and general assembly on or before June 1, 2008. The division may engage experts in the field of co-occurring mental health and substance abuse disorders to facilitate this planning process. f. Evidence-based practices. Begin phased implementation of evidence-based practices for mental health services over a period of several years. (1) Not later than October 1, 2007, in order to provide a reasonable timeline for the implementation of evidence-based practices with mental health and disability services providers, the division shall provide for implementation of two adult and two children evidence-based practices per year over a three-year period. (2) The division shall develop a comprehensive training program concerning such practices for community mental health centers, state resource centers and mental health institutes, and other providers, in collaboration with the Iowa consortium for mental health and mental health service providers. The division shall consult with experts on behavioral health workforce development regarding implementation of the mental health and disability services training and the curriculum and training opportunities offered. (3) The department shall apply measures to ensure appropriate reimbursement is available to all providers for the implementation of mandated evidence-based practices and request appropriate funding for evidence-based practices from the governor and general assembly as part of the implementation plan. The implementation plan shall be submitted to the governor and general assembly on or before January 31, 2008. (4) The department shall provide the commission with a plan for review to implement the provisions of this paragraph "f". g. Comprehensive plan. (1) Complete a written plan describing the key components of the state's mental health services system, including the services addressed in this subsection and those that are community-based, state institution-based, or regional or state-based. The plan shall incorporate the community mental health center plan provisions implemented pursuant to this subsection. The plan shall be submitted to the commission on or before November 15, 2008, and to the governor and general assembly on or before December 15, 2008. (2) In addition, complete a written plan for the department to assume leadership and to assign and reassign significant financial responsibility for the components of the mental health services system in this state, including but not limited to the actions needed to implement the provisions of this subsection involving community mental health centers, core mental health services, core services agencies, co-occurring disorders, and evidence-based practices. The plan shall include recommendations for funding levels, payment methodologies for new and existing services, and allocation changes necessary for the department to assume significant financial responsibility for mental health services. The plan shall be submitted to the commission on or before November 15, 2008, and the commission shall provide review and recommendations on the plan to the department on or before December 15, 2008. The plan shall be submitted to the governor and general assembly on or before January 15, 2009. (3) The planning provisions of this paragraph shall be directed toward the goal of strengthening the partnership between the department and counties in the state's services system.          Section History: Recent Form 2007 Acts, ch 218, §93