It is hard to keep abreast of the changes being made to the healthcare system at the Federal level, and how these changes will impact behavioral health (BH) services. The current reprioritization of funding by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the proposed changes in the budget bill pending in Congress will significantly reshape Medicaid and critical behavioral health programs. States and local organizations will need to sharpen their understanding of this new funding landscape, so they are able to focus on addressing critical needs for prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders.
Register today – HMA’s Behavioral Health Town Hall, Thursday, May 29 at 12 p.m.
With Federal funding levels in question, States and their stakeholders need to consider how they are funding BH initiatives. We’ll address participant questions and topics we know are top of mind, for example:
What steps can states take to ensure sustainable funding for critical programs? Are states strategically utilizing their Medicaid programs to preserve BH specific program dollars for other purposes? What efficiencies and enabling technologies can organizations adopt to support their mission? How should state and local entities be thinking about the opioid settlement dollars to maximize support for services and initiatives that face uncertain future financial support?
In addition, Congress is debating changes to Medicaid eligibility and funding policies that may result in shifts in key aspects of the program. States can start planning now for changes to their processes and for outreach and education campaigns that will be essential in supporting individuals with mental health and substance use disorder diagnoses. Payers should be planning for changes in enrollment and enrollee risk profiles while providers should expect changes in their payer mix and a need for enhanced collaboration with community organizations. Are there different models that can be pursued to effectively navigate these shifts? How will all of this uncertainty affect the BH workforce? Stakeholders need to be prepared to engage in downside risk arrangements, think about their patient/consumer engagement strategies and integrating digital BH tools that are the focus of the CMS Innovation Center agenda.
You probably have questions that we didn’t even list here. Here is your chance to ask them: Join HMA on Thursday, May 29 at 12 p.m. at a dynamic and interactive Behavioral Health Town Hall where HMA experts Heidi Arthur, Rachel Bembas, Allie Franklin, Teresa Garate, Monica Johnson, and Sara Singleton will be available to answer your questions live on a wide range of critical topics, including:
- Federal policy, personnel, and funding changes;
- Emerging strategies for addressing social determinants of health, substance use disorder and crisis coordination (including 988);
- Leveraging cross-sector partnerships to build ecosystems of care across communities promoting coordination and collaboration;
- Behavioral health revenue cycle management and alternative payment models; and
- Innovations in addressing workforce shortages, integrated service delivery, digital mental health tools, and best practices for community mental health service delivery.
Whether you’re navigating regulations, searching for new funding, designing service delivery systems, or just trying to understand what happens next, this town hall is your chance to ask questions, share insights, and discuss real-world solutions with industry experts.