Iowa Code Title VI. Human Services [Chs. 216-255A] § 230A.104. Catchment areas

2. a. Unless the department has determined that exceptional circumstances exist, a catchment area shall be served by one community mental health center. The purpose of this general limitation is to clearly designate the center responsible and accountable for providing core mental health services to the target population in the catchment area and to protect the financial viability of the centers comprising the mental health services system in the state.

b. A formal review process shall be used in determining whether exceptional circumstances exist that justify designating more than one center to serve a catchment area. The criteria for the review process shall include but are not limited to a means of determining whether the catchment area can support more than one center.

c. Criteria shall be provided that would allow the designation of more than one center for all or a portion of a catchment area if designation or approval for more than one center was provided by the department as of October 1, 2010. The criteria shall require a determination that all such centers would be financially viable if designation is provided for all.