Brandy Benedict

The committee reviewed and approved various licensure recommendations, including one-year, two-year, and three-year licenses for several behavioral health and addiction treatment programs. Deemed status licensure was approved for a behavioral health facility, and a license revision was granted to add specific treatment services to an existing provider. Additionally, the committee received an overview of the Iowa Behavioral Health Reporting System (IBHRS) and an update regarding the ongoing organizational alignment between the Iowa Department of Public Health and the Department of Human Services.

The committee reviewed and acted upon various licensure recommendations for substance use disorder and problem gambling programs, including one-year, two-year, and three-year licenses, as well as deemed status approvals. The committee also considered a complaint investigation report and issued license denials, including a 90-day follow-up inspection outcome. Furthermore, the committee received updates regarding the department's health and human services alignment, staff shortages among providers, the distribution of Naloxone, and progress on a CCBHC planning grant.

The committee held a session to address licensure recommendations for various health programs, resulting in approvals for 270-day, one-year, two-year, and three-year licenses, as well as several approvals through deemed status. Additionally, the committee denied a license application that failed to meet the required weighting report rating. The meeting also included programmatic updates regarding the IDPH and DHS alignment process, an overview of the 2022 legislative session, a report on Iowa opioid and synthetic narcotic data, and an update on the Iowa Youth Survey results focusing on mental health.

The committee meeting addressed licensure recommendations, including granting two-year licenses to Sober Strategies Inc. and North Iowa Counseling, LLC, and approving the denial of a license for New Sight, Inc. Updates were provided regarding the organizational alignment between IDPH and DHS, the status of the 2022 Legislative session, the end of the COVID-19 proclamation, and concerns regarding rising suicide rates in Iowa. Additionally, the committee discussed the implementation of the 988 national suicide prevention hotline in the state.

The subcommittee meeting includes an overview of the case review tool, announcements regarding the Domestic Abuse Death Review Subcommittee report, and a grounding exercise. The primary focus is a closed session conducted to perform case reviews for eight specific domestic abuse cases spanning the years 2018 and 2019, followed by a centering meditation and other business.