Iowa Governor’s Budget Proposal Seeks To Close Two Mental Institutes

The budget proposal released by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad includes a provision recommended by the state Department of Human Services (DHS) to realign the state’s adult psychiatric services and close two of the state’s four adult mental health institutes (MHIs). DHS recommended closing the Mount Pleasant and Clarinda MHIs during 2015. The two MHIs are not accepting new admissions for adult psychiatric services; closure was recommended as part of a proposed larger-scale facility realignment to affect all programs offered by the two MHIs. The two MHIs have had difficulties in recruiting clinical staff; low utilization of the . . .