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Health, human services work begins in state Capitol

This week, we started floor debate. Thursday, three bills were considered; two had unanimous support and one passed with bipartisan support.

However, I did not support HF 144, a bill that extends the moratorium on new casinos in Iowa. The proponents of the bill said that Iowa’s gambling market is saturated, and any new casinos would cannibalize the existing casinos. I disagree, and now the passage of this bill prohibits the Racing and Gaming Commision from recommending new casino licenses for five years. This, in my opinion, is the definition of picking winners and losers. Regardless of how you feel about gambling, this is a limitation of the free market. I’m disappointed this passed with a 68-31-1 vote.

Transportation

Last week, I chaired the subcommittee bill for HSB64, the hands-free driving legislation. We heard testimony from associations, law enforcement and citizens. The bill simply states that you cannot hold your phone in your hand while driving for any purpose. We heard that while there can be many distractions when driving (eating, make-up, pets, children, etc.) the one that causes the most crashes, injuries and death is the distraction of scrolling through a cell phone. There have been bills enacted in other states for several years, and studies show that a restriction on cell phones in hands has reduced crashes. And you know what, there is a lot of data that comes to us….but behind every statistic, there is a family that has lost not a number, but their loved one.The most impactful testimony was from families that lost their dad, their spouse, their child or their grandchild. I truly believe this legislation will save lives.

Health and Human Services Budget Subcommittee

The first several weeks of HHS budget committee will consist of presentations from Iowa DHHS to help us focus where investments will be the most impactful. This week, DHHS gave updates to Iowa Medicaid program, including provider rate reviews.

Health and Human Services

The House Health and Human Services Committee heard a presentation on progress implementing Iowa’s newly improved Behavioral Health System that will improve outcomes, remove duplication, and create a statewide plan. Recently, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced that the Iowa Primary Care Association will serve statewide as the Administrative Service Organization (ASO) for the state’s redesigned Behavioral Health System after winning a competitive bidding process. IPCA and DHHS participated in the presentation this week.

“The ASO is responsible for establishing a network of providers and ensuring that all Iowans have clear, consistent pathways to care and support they need. Alongside local leaders, school officials, law enforcement, health care providers and public health professionals, the ASO will develop and lead a unified operational approach for each district to meet district community needs.”

The district map will go into effect July 1, 2025. This transitions the current county — run mental health and disability services regional system to a state behavioral health service system with the state contracted administrative service organization governed by the Iowa DHHS. The map can be found here https://hhs.iowa.gov/media/14027/download?inline

The bill that passed last year additionally did the following:

• The behavioral health service system has the purpose of prevention, education, early intervention, treatment, recovery support, and crisis services for mental health, substance use, tobacco use, and problem gambling.

• Each district will have a district behavioral health advisory council.

• The bill directs the funds from the federal community health mental health services block grant and the federal substance abuse prevention and treatment block grant to DHHS.

• Creates a central data repository for behavioral health data with demographic information, expenditure data, and services and supports provided to individuals.

• Establishes a behavioral health fund, with similar funding to the existing annual increases based on a state growth factor. The bill prohibits an ASO from spending more than 7 percent on administrative costs.

• Provides $3 million from the regional incentive fund for 988. The FY2025 ending balance for the fund is expected to be over $40 million. This bill also appropriated $1 million from the regional incentive fund for DHHS administrative costs and requires DHHS to report to the legislature on administrative costs and funds for a central data repository.

This bill requires DHHS to designate aging and disability resource centers to establish a coordinated system of providing assistance to persons with disabilities and the elderly.

State Rep. Ann Meyer, R-Fort Dodge, represents Fort Dodge and eastern Webster County.

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