The Louisa County Board of Supervisors took action at their recent meeting in regards to the change in mental health and disabilities coming this summer to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed legislation in 2024 with the goal of streamlining function and improving access. The previous system of 32 districts, 13 mental health and disability service regions, and 19 integrated provider networks is scheduled to be replaced by seven new districts geared to oversee mental health and substance abuse treatment, including prevention, early intervention, treatment and crisis services, overseen by who the bill describes as an “administrative services organization” hired by the state. Disabilities services are now under the jurisdiction of HHS.

In a statement, Marissa Eyanson, director of behavior health for HHS, says that the new districts were created by measuring metrics in each county including Medicaid enrollment, medical, dental and mental healthcare along with the social vulnerability index to measure residential risk by county. Louisa County is part of district seven which includes Black Hawk, Buchanan, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, Jones, Linn, Johnson, Cedar, Clinton, Scott, Muscatine and Des Moines counties. The rest of the KCII listening area along with Benton, Poweshiek, Mahaska, Wapello, Monroe, Appanoose, Davis, Van Buren and Lee County are in district six.

The Supervisors approved the release of county and mental health disability service forms to Iowa HHS to continue work toward a July 1st compliance date.