Healthcare Reform
Enacted on March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) (Pub.L. 111-148) is expected to expand health care coverage to an additional 32 million citizens and legal immigrants by 2019 through a combination of state-based private insurance exchanges and a Medicaid expansion. In addition, the new law includes a number of reforms to curb harmful insurance company practices as well as provisions to slow the growth of health care costs and improve quality of care.
Here you will find resources to better the different aspects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation including coverage, preventive services, integration and enrollment.
Mental Health America ACA Updates
Mental Health America Conference 2013
ACA Presentations
Breakout Session 4: Investing in "Upstream Services" - A Call for Prevention and Early Intervention
Breakout Session 9: Coverage - What Does a Model Coverage Package Look Like?
Breakout Session 11: Integration and Transformation - From Disease Management to Recovery and Wellness
Mental Health America ACA Webinars
Please visit our Webinar Page for the most recent presentations.
Mental Health America ACA Comments
Please visit our Comments on Proposed Federal Rule Page for our most recent comments.
Reactions to Supreme Court Ruling
Mental Health America hailed the ACA ruling as a tremendous victory. Read more at http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/news/mental-health-america-hails-ruling-on-aca-as-a-tremendous-victory
- View our photo album from the front of the Supreme Court on June 28th, 2012
- Read one intern's take on being there
Resources on Medicaid Managed Care Services
On May 7th, 2012, Mental Health America staff and guest speakers presented a webinar on Medicaid Managed Care Contracting. Materials for the webinar are below:
2011 Annual Conference Highlights
The 2011 Mental Health America Conference held at the Hyatt Regency from June 9th - 11th featured a healthcare reform advocacy track that included four sessions on:
- Health Reform
- State Exchanges
- Medicaid Expansion
- Advocacy Strategies
A summary of the presentations and downloadable powerpoints can be found here.
Health Care Reform Toolkit
This toolkit is designed to help advocates understand how the Affordable Care Act impacts the behavioral health community, and gives strategies for becoming involved in implementation activities in your state by engaging your legislators, Governor, mental health commissioner, and other key stakeholders.
- Issue Brief - A Summary of Provisions and Advocacy Strategies for Behavioral Health Advocates
- Strategy Brief - Getting Involved in Your State
- Fact Sheet - State Insurance Exchanges
- Fact Sheet - Medicaid Expansion
- Talking Points - Gaining Support for the Implementation of Health Reform
- Sample Op-Ed - Gaining Support for the Implementation of Health Reform
- Additional Resources
WEBINAR: Mental Health in Health Reform - Using MHA's Toolkit
Information from the webinar held on January 12, 2011, entitled, "WEBINAR: Mental Health in Health Reform - Using MHA's Toolkit" is now available:
- Download the Webinar Power Point Presentation or view below
Parity and Health Care Reform: Important Changes for Behavioral Health
View the July 8, 2010 webinar on Parity and Health Care Reform
download the PowerPoint
The Health Care Reform Law
Learn how the Affordable Care Act will affect mental health and substance use treatment and services. download PDF
Questions?
Please contact the MHA Public Policy & Advocacy Staff
Recent Work on the Affordable Care Act
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act: Moving Forward with Public Sector Reforms
Thursday, September 20, 2012
The Affordable Care Act implementation continues to move at both the state and federal levels. While important guidance is being developed and released by the Department of Health and Human Services, much of the focus has turned to the states who are anticipating the expansion of Medicaid coverage to the formerly uninsured between 100 and 133% of the federal poverty level as well as responding to several of the innovative programs included in the Act. Join this session to learn about how to be most effectively involved in the reforms to public systems at the state level. We will review Medicaid expansion efforts and demonstration projects for those who are eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare, and provide on-the-ground examples of advocacy efforts that can be employed in your state to help insure that mental health and addiction services are appropriately incorporated into the public health care systems in your community.
Presenters
Paul Gionfriddo, Our Health Policy Matters, FL (Download Presentation)
Andrew Sperling, JD, National Alliance on Mental Illness, VA (Download Presentation)
Rusty Selix, JD, Mental Health America of California, CA (Download Presentation)
Implementation of the Affordable Care Act - Private Market Expansion Efforts
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
2014 and the establishment of health insurance exchanges is right around the corner, and there is much to do to get this right. This session will explore ways advocates can be involved in the efforts to provide affordable health insurance to individuals and small businesses at the state level. We will review efforts to establish the Essential Benefits Package and create a structure for the Exchange, including issues of enrollment, participating plans, health information technology, and oversight. Practical examples of ways to be involved and influence the Exchange in your state will be provided.
Dave Chandra, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Washington, DC (Download Presentation)
Moe Keller, Mental Health America of Colorado, CO (Download Presentation)
Reggie Williams, Avalere Health, Washington, DC (Download Presentation)
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