Delayed last month to allow for language revisions, the 28E Agreement between Washington County and the new Mental Health Agency of Southeast Iowa was unanimously approved by the supervisors Tuesday.   

Prior to the agreement action the board approved a resolution of its intent to join the 13-county member agency. Supervisor Jack Seward Jr. explained that all attorneys for the counties had reviewed the documents and after some changes asked for by Mahaska County, language revisions were made.  However, the agreement is substantially the same as the previous one.  Changes reflect changes made in state law.

The counties are Appaloosa, Davis, Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello, and Washington.

The governing board for the Agency now has seven additional members, reflecting adult and child service providers, educators, parents, and appointees from the judiciary and from law enforcement.

The board also unanimously approved a Professional Services Agreement and a Business Associates Agreement with the Washington County Hospital and Clinics.

The first is an agreement between the WCHC and the Washington County Ambulance Service, specifying the range of services between the two, and details services and costs.  The second, for professional services, is to comply with the requirements of the federal HIPPA Privacy Rule and Security Rules and defines the full scope of the agreement in compliance with HIPPA.  The agreements are effective July 1 and are similar to previous ones.

During the brief supervisors’ comment segment, Seward noted that Tuesday was the 79th anniversary of the D-Day landing in Normandy, France and asked that a moment’s thought be given to those who took part in the major offensive action of World War II.