Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD
FEATURED ARTICLE
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics: What’s in It for States?
/in Policy Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Chronic and Complex Populations, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration /by NASHPWhen it comes to behavioral health systems, many states struggle with the lack of “system.” Services provided are often a compilation of available Medicaid state plan options, with little in the way of unifying structures to ensure coordination of care or linkages to other systems. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently […]
Transition Team Bridge Inpatient to Outpatient Mental Health Services for Complex Mentally Ill
/in Policy Oregon Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health System Costs, Long-Term Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home /by Mary TakachIn my previous “Walkabout Medical Home” blog posts I have highlighted the work Primary Health Care Organizations (PHCOs) in Australia (Medicare Locals) have done to connect people with mild to moderate mental health diagnoses to primary care or community-based services. This blog highlights the innovative work being done stateside by Oregon’s Health Share. Health Share […]
The Mental Health Parity and Equity Addictions Act Proposed Rules – a Checklist for States
/in Policy Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Essential Health Benefits, Health Coverage and Access, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration /by NASHPState policymakers have a critical role to play in how the Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity Act (MHPAEA) is operationalized in state programs, including Medicaid managed care organizations, alternative benefit plans, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Now that CMS has released long-awaited proposed rules on implementation of the MHPAEA in these programs, […]
State Community Health Worker Models
/in Policy Maps Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Community Health Workers, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health System Costs, Long-Term Care, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home Community Health Workers /by NASHPCommunity Health Worker Models in Evolving State Health Care Systems
/in Policy Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Community Health Workers, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health System Costs, Long-Term Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home /by Jackie LeGrandCommunity health workers (CHWs) are often employed to improve health equity, cultural competency, health literacy and access to care, among other issues. Because they have such varied roles, there are many definitions of CHWs; however, they are commonly identified by their in-depth understanding of the population they serve. On a recent State Refor(u)m webinar, speakers […]
Community Health Worker Models in Evolving State Health Care Systems
/in Policy Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Community Health Workers, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health Equity, Health System Costs, Long-Term Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home /by NASHP and Jackie LeGrandCommunity health workers (CHWs) are often employed to improve health equity, cultural competency, health literacy and access to care, among other issues. Because they have such varied roles, there are many definitions of CHWs; however, they are commonly identified by their in-depth understanding of the population they serve. On a recent State Refor(u)m webinar, speakers […]
Shaking Up the Delivery of Traditional Mental Health Services
/in Policy Blogs Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health System Costs, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home, Workforce Capacity /by Mary TakachSeveral primary health care organizations (PHCOs) that I have spoken with in the states and in Australia during my 10-month fellowship have established a central referral point or “one stop shop” to help primary care practices connect their patients to community-based mental health and/or substance abuse services. These referral centers can take the load off […]
Population Health Components of State Innovation Model (SIM) Plans: Round 2 Model Testing States
/in Policy Accountable Health, Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Community Health Workers, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health Equity, Health System Costs, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Primary Care/Patient-Centered/Health Home, Quality and Measurement, Social Determinants of Health /by NASHP*Chart updated March 6, 2015 The Round Two State Innovation Model (SIM) Test Awards granted by HHS to eleven states (Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, Ohio, Tennessee, and Washington) support state efforts to build multi-payer models of health system transformation. As noted in a previous analysis, population health improvement is […]
The State of State Health Policy: Governors’ 2015 State of the State Addresses
/in Policy Reports Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Chronic and Complex Populations, Community Health Workers, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health System Costs, Healthy Child Development, Long-Term Care, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, Medicaid Managed Care, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health /by NASHPGovernors across the nation have laid out their priorities for the coming year as part of their State of the State addresses. NASHP summarizes the 44 addresses given to date. Seven governors discussed health insurance exchanges, 13 health care costs, and nine addressed issues related to a culture of health. Individual governors also addressed issues […]
Transforming the Workforce to Provide Better Chronic Care: The Role of a Community Health Nurse in a High-Utilizer Program in Oregon
/in Policy Oregon Reports Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Care Coordination, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Community Health Workers, Cost, Payment, and Delivery Reform, Health Coverage and Access, Health System Costs, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Workforce Capacity /by Mary TakachPart 5 in the Transforming the Workforce to Provide Better Chronic Care: The Role of Registered Nurses series. Click to see the rest of the series. Yamhill Community Care Organization (YCCO), one of 16 coordinated care organizations in Oregon, utilizes a community health nurse to manage its Community HUB program, which helps “super-utilizer” patients more […]
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
Government Eliminates Waiver Requirement for Doctors Prescribing the Addiction Treatment Medication Buprenorphine
/in Policy Blogs, Featured News Home Behavioral/Mental Health and SUD, Chronic and Complex Populations, Chronic Disease Prevention and Management, Health Equity, Physical and Behavioral Health Integration, Population Health, Social Determinants of Health /by Jodi Manz and Kitty PuringtonUnder new US Department of Health and Human Services practice guidelines, physicians will no longer have to go through the cumbersome process of obtaining a federal waiver to prescribe the opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment buprenorphine to patients.