DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG-TV) – On Friday, a federal court gave its approval of a settlement agreement in a lawsuit against the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) director. According to a release from Iowa HHS, the 2023 lawsuit was filed on behalf of Medicaid-eligible children.

The lawsuit argues Iowa HHS denied children struggling with mental illness “timely access to intensive community services, resulting in unnecessary institutionalization and harm,” as stated in the release. The settlement agreement ensures Iowa children are able to receive the proper care and treatment they need. As part of the settlement agreement, Iowa HHS is providing new services through the Responsive Excellent Care for Healthy youth initiative (Iowa REACH).

Iowa REACH is a program “aimed at ensuring youth remain in their communities, and will include care coordination, in-home mental health services, mobile crisis services, as well as a new screening and assessment process, ensuring children with mental health disabilities are screened for appropriate services.”

The settlement agreement also lays out timelines and strategies for the new services.