Government : BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING Minutes 10/7/11

The Benton County Board of Supervisors met in regular adjourned session with Supervisors Buch and Sanders present. Supervisor Vermedahl absent. Chairman Buch called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. at the Kirkwood Continuing Education Center in Cedar Rapids. The Board met with representatives from Cedar County, as well as State Representatives Dawn Pettengill, Jeff Kaufman, and Renee Schulte. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the legislation passed during the 2011 legislation session directing the redesign of delivery of mental health services in Iowa. The legislation created study groups to develop various aspects towards the redesign of the mental health system. One possible change would encourage regionalization of services. The Benton County supervisors had voiced concern over the concept of regionalization questioning if that was the best direction for Benton County’s service population. Representative Pettengill had previously told the Board that the legislature had not required regionalization and that all study groups would submit plans to a committee, who in turn, would submit a proposed plan to the Iowa legislature for consideration in 2012. However, it was reported that DHS Director Charles Palmer had stated that regionalization was in essence going to materialize and that counties needed to prepare for the redesign. Concerns voiced by county representatives relative to regionalization of mental health serviced included, but are not limited to, the following: Distance to services, local presence in the county, costs, efficiency, differing services between counties, ability to cross regional boundaries to access services, equitable funding in a regional based service area, management and governance of a regionally based service area, equal county representation on regional boards, implementation time-line, bed shortages, oversight, the need to change a system that is working in many counties. Representative Schulte responded that not all counties are providing the services currently mandated and that the redesign of the mental health system was to provide a standardized set of services across the state. Rep. Schulte stated that the legislation would eliminate legal settlement requirements currently in place. The redesign would eliminate seventy-eight central point coordinators currently in place – adding that the funds are not always getting to the right people. There would be standardized administration, billing, provider rates, and eligibility. Rep. Schulte stated that service providers are not being removed from communities but that a regional service area could provide more services in some counties, i.e. a mobile clinic. Rep. Schulte added that some counties are providing services that are not good practices citing the use of sheltered workshops for mentally ill clients. Rep. Schulte added there would be no more legacy services and that there would be delivery changes that give the consumer more choice and more service options. Rep. Schulte and Rep. Pettengill both echoed that there was no discussion on the delivery of services on the local level, but that if regionalization was the best for delivery of services, then guidelines were included in the legislation regarding the creation and responsibilities of the region. Rep. Schulte encouraged those present to contact their lobbyist and legislators so that the 2012 legislature could consider all aspects of the system redesign. Rep. Schulte did reiterate however that the delivery of mental health was going to change, how that change is effectuated is what is under consideration through interim committee and study groups. Moved by Sanders, seconded by Buch, to adjourn. Both members voting aye thereon. Motion carried. __________________________________ Ronald R. Buch, Chairman ATTEST: ___________________________________ Jill Marlow, Benton County Auditor