(Radio Iowa) – The governor’s plan to merge the 13 regional systems for mental health services and 19 substance use treatment regions has won bipartisan support in the Iowa House. The bill would establish seven behavioral health districts in Iowa. Iowa Department of Health and Human Services director Kelly Garcia says the plan does not call for additional state spending, but will free-up 23 million dollars in state funds for mental health services that haven’t been spent.

“Do we need more money? Possibly,” Garcia says, “but right now we’re sitting on fund balances, so I need a little bit more time to assess that but you absolutely should be assured that we will move forward with a recommendation once we make this change and assess what’s needed.”

Supporters of the merged system say it will ensure Iowans have access to similar substance abuse and mental health services no matter where they live. A House Democrat who backed the bill called it a good start, but she says the state will have to provide more incentives to get more people in the mental health care workforce. Under the bill, the redesigned and merged behavioral health system would not start operating in its seven regions until July 1st of NEXT year.