Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association

IMHCA Government Relations Committee Update; March 2016

See the picture from our "Day on the Hill" and read this update in a nice format by clicking the link to the PDF at the bottom of this article!

Summary of Public Policy and Mental Health Awareness Efforts

March was a busy month for the Government Relations Team! On Monday, March 7th 2016, the Iowa Mental Health Counselors Association held its 8th annual “Day on the Hill” advocacy event at the Capitol in Des Moines. With increasing interest and concern about the current state of Iowa’s mental health delivery system, the event has steadily grown in popularity since its inception during the 2008 Regular Session. This year we welcomed the highest number of attendees to date, consisting of mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, and over a dozen students from Drake University’s Mental Health Counseling and Rehabilitation Programs. Numbering over twenty, participants gathered for a short briefing by IMHCA and IAMFT state lobbyist, Emily Piper, to review the afternoon agenda and hear the latest legislative update before heading upstairs to meet individually with Senators and Representatives from both sides of the aisle.

Focusing on members of the Senate and House Human Resources Committees, Majority and Minority Leaders, and a small number of legislators from various participant districts, our emphasis this year was placed on educating session leaders from both chambers by summarizing key legislative efforts, communicating individual and collective experiences related to the privatization of Medicaid services in Iowa, and showing appreciation for supported efforts and/or movement on IMHCA monitored legislation.

As is sometimes the case (these things are often difficult to predict), many of our meeting requests were met with disappointment as attempts to successfully navigate around caucuses in both chambers proved difficult. In spite of the unforeseen barriers and unusually quiet Senate and House floors, attendees were able to speak at length with House Representatives David Heaton (R), Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D), Zach Nunn (R), and John Forbes (D) along with Senate Republican Leader Bill Dix. Each was receptive and willing to listen openly to the group’s concerns, and although there were a few spirited disagreements about the handling of Iowa’s Medicaid privatization efforts, there seemed to be bi-partisan agreement that a certain level of DHS and IME oversight would be necessary as the state forges ahead with a looming April 1st implementation date.