DES MOINES, IOWA (July 7, 2020) — Governor Kim Reynolds announced that $50,000,000 in federal funds allocated through the CARES Act will be invested in Iowa’s mental health-care system. Watch Gov Reynolds’ announcement on Facebook here.
“We are making meaningful investments into Iowa’s mental-health services to help vulnerable Iowans and their families,” said Gov Reynolds. “Today’s investment is not only about adapting to the challenges we face today, but sustaining a compassionate and coordinated system for the future. I also want to commend Flora Schmidt with the Iowa Behavioral Health Association and Andrew Allen, CEO of Youth and Shelter Services for making a difference in the lives of so many Iowans.”
$50,000,000 in CARES Act will be allocated through the providers:
Mental Health Providers — $10M
- Will go to Medicaid providers of non-hospital based inpatient and outpatient services to cover increased costs associated with pandemic.
Substance Use Disorder Providers — $10M
- Will go to Medicaid providers of non-hospital based residential and outpatient services to cover increased costs associated with pandemic.
Mental Health and Disability Services Regions — $30M
- State will distribute an equal per-capita amount to each MHDS region to support ongoing adult and children's mental-health services, including to cover increased service need due to the stressors and isolation associated with pandemic.
- With $98-99M of property tax-levy dollars going to MHDS regional services, the additional $30M investment brings the overall system funding to nearly $130M.
Gov Reynolds was joined at her press conference by Flora A Schmidt, the Executive Director for the Iowa Behavioral Health Association; Andrew Allen, President and CEO of Youth and Shelter Services; Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg; and DHS Director Kelly Garcia.
