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OTTUMWA, IA -- The Iowa General Assembly is currently debating reforming how the state provides mental health services.

For decades, the state has funded mental health services for Iowans, but the programs have been administered at the county level.

For some in the General Assembly, that means Iowans have been facing a patchwork quilt of services.

County officials are concerned that the reforms will shortchange local patients.

“The regionalization we don’t support at this time unless the taxes are levied-equaled out and the services are equalized out so that we don’t get hurt and our clients and citizens of Wapello County who use our services don’t get hurt,” says Wapello County Supervisor Steve Siegel.

Siegel worries that regionalizing mental health care would either shortchange local patients or local taxpayers.

While everyone would like to reform the system, no one at the state or local level is sure how those reforms will be paid for.