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The Iowa House is moving fast, debating dozens of bills each day and working into the evening to send bills to the Governor, or back to the Senate with changes. It actually feels like the House is trying to get session done before April 19 (when legislators stop being paid). Expect more of the same in the coming week from the House.
The House Appropriations Committee has passed out seven of the ten budget bills, and will send another one to the house floor for debate early next week (the Health/Human Services Budget). We are only missing the Infrastructure and Standings budgets (expect Infrastructure this week).
We have some really exciting news to report! There are some great things in the House budgets for Iowans with disabilities and those who support them. Rep. Joel Fry (R-Osceola), the chair of the Health and Human Services (HHS) Budget Subcommittee, said the budget reflects what he has heard from Iowans: pay the people who provide direct services to Iowans with disabilities better and expand access to mental health services. He also said the bill begins to build up community capacity to give Iowans with disabilities more community living options. Here's a quick list:
- Fully funds Glenwood, Woodward State Resource Centers.
- $14.6 million increase HCBS provider rates for raises for direct support staff.
- $7.4 million more to remove 250 people from HCBS ID waiver waiting list.
- $4 million increase to expand rural access to home health care providers.
- $3 million increase for Intermediate Care Facilities/ID for staff raises.
- $2 million more to raise psychiatric hospitalization rates for more complex patients.
- $3 million more for child psychiatric hospitalization rates (PMIC – 36% increase).
- $1.1 million more to increase residential substance use rates.
- $71 million of new money for full take-over of MH/DS regional funding.
- $200,000 to add functional family, multi-systemic therapy to Medicaid.
- $500,000 to clear waiting lists for guardianship services through the Office of Public Guardian.
- $300,000 to hire three more long-term care ombudsmen.
- $200,000 more to create two more psychiatric residencies.
The House Education Budget (HF 2575) also has some great surprises. The House plans to debate this bill sometime this week.
- $200,000 in new funds for scholarships for post-high-school transition programs at Iowa colleges for young Iowans with developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and learning disabilities, if the bill creating this program passes (HF 2495). There are currently two programs in the state - REACH at University of Iowa, and NEXT at Northwestern College.
- $4.5 million more for college loan repayments for health care professionals, including $1.5 million for new program for mental health professionals, if the bill creating the program passes (HF 2549). This new loan repayment program will repay college student loans for social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, psychologists, prescribing psychologists, psychiatric Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners, physician assistants working under the supervision of a psychiatrist, and psychiatrists in areas where access to mental health services is lacking.
- $120,000 increase for vocational rehabilitation services.
- $200,000 increase for school-based mental health at the Area Education Agencies (AEAs).
- $10,000 increase for Best Buddies to expand into more schools, for a total of $35,000.
You can read the HHS Budget Bill (which does not yet have a number) here and a quick review of what is funded here. You can find the Education Budget Bill here.
What Does This Mean to You?
- The State House has put more money into their budget for services and supports.
- More money means more pay for staff, and hopefully they stay longer.
- More money also helps providers offer more types of services.
- Taking people off waiting lists lets more people get the services they need.
- The Senate may make changes to this budget.
- To pass, the Senate and House will have to agree on how to spend the money.
What Can You Do?
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Thank Rep. Fry for putting more money into community services.
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Email or call your Senator and ask them to support the House increases.
- Tell others you know to do the same!
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