Mental health care workers and patients would be in line for assistance under a package of bills introduced by state lawmakers.

Iowa House Republicans have introduced four bills that would aim to add more mental health beds at state-run mental health facilities, establish more psychiatric residencies in the state, and create a loan repayment program for mental health care workers.

Expanding access to mental health care is the objective of four bills recently introduced by state Rep. Ann Meyer.

Some of those bills aim to expand that access by increasing the ranks of mental health professionals like psychiatrists.

“I will not stop working to increase access to mental health care until every Iowan has the access to the quality care they deserve,” the Fort Dodge Republican said.

Representative Ann Meyer (R-Fort Dodge) introduced a series of bills in the very first week of the 2022 Legislative Session to expand access to mental health care in Iowa. 

"I have heard from members of my community, law enforcement, and health care providers about the need for treatment locations to place difficult patients and for additional mental health providers throughout the state," said Meyer. "I will not stop working to increase access to mental health care until every Iowan has the access to the quality care they deserve."

A panel of Iowa state representatives advanced the first pair of bills to come out of the governor’s child care task force Wednesday.

The first bill applies to low-income families who get government-funded child care assistance (CCA).

It would allow child care centers to collect additional money from these families to help make up the difference between what the government pays and what the center charges families who don’t get assistance.

(DES MOINES) -- Speaker of the House Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) delivered opening remarks to the Iowa House of Representatives today.  The following are his remarks, as prepared for delivery: