With two mental health facilities in Iowa expected to close, some legislators see an opportunity to provide a new level of care. It was discovered last week that Governor Branstad intends to phase out the Mental Health Institutes in Mount Pleasant and Clarinda in order to save the state $7 million.

Representative for House District 84 Dave Heaton says a quarter of the patients at Iowa’s mental health institutes have received their treatment, but aren’t ready to go back to their communities. He explains they could address that need by developing a level of care where patients could remain in a controlled environment and under observation. The representative adds it would be a step down from the care provided at the Mental Health Institutes, and would free up space at those acute care centers.

The 80 staff members at the Mount Pleasant location were told last week the facility would be closing.