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Loebsack discusses new child mental health bill

Newton Daily News (IA) - 7/22/2016

July 22--Thursday afternoon's roundtable discussion at the Newton Arboretum didn't last long, but it touched on a powerful and specific subject.

As part of his regular rounds to the 24 counties in his district, U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack stopped in Newton on Thursday, this time to talk a bill he recently introduced to Congress. Loebsack is the author of HR 5462 -- The Children's Access to Mental Health Services Act -- which helps provide matching funds to cover administrative costs for pediatric mental health service providers.

The short-notice appearance by Loebsack garnered only a small amount of participants, though each one plays a key role in the central Iowa mental health community. Kathy May teaches mental health nursing at Marshalltown Community College, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Jasper County President Bill Ehler and Kim Zantingh and Terry Sallis of Integrated Treatment Services were also there. Loebsack's local district representative, Bri Dennison, was traveling with Loebsack on Thursday.

"This act would allow organizations already receiving funding to get help with administrative costs," Loebsack said in describing his bill. "And, hopefully, it would free up some funds to hire providers. I keep hearing about a lack of providers -- especially psychiatrists."

The Congressman didn't talk much about HR 5462, which was introduced June 13 and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He did mention a recent case of a military veteran and Davenport native who committed suicide after being denied admission to the Veterans Administration in Iowa City, and the challenges of getting answers about that situation and mental health care in general.

He also fielded a few concerns from May, Ehler, Sallis and Zantingh.

Loebsack acknowledged some concerns about providers getting paid in a full and timely manner by Iowa's three recently contracted managed care organizations.

Sallis touched on the criminalization of mental illness and other ways Iowa is lacking in how it provides mental health facilities or services.

"I know of several agencies that have had to close down because of not getting paid for Medicaid services sufficiently," Sallis said.

Zantingh said communication and dealing with industry professionals with no background in mental health are sources of frustration, as is the lack of inpatient facilities that will take adults with a history of either violence or substance abuse.

Ehler described the role of organizations such as Capstone Behavioral Healthcare to Loebsack, along with his own frustrations with health care.

Loebsack said Congress must make mental health more of a priority.

"If we deny the importance of mental illness, it enhances the stigma," Loebsack said.

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com

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(c)2016 the Newton Daily News (Newton, Iowa)

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