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We face a national crisis on mental health.

We continue to face a mental and behavioral health (MBH) and addiction crisis in the United States, and at a time when more Americans than ever before need support – 

  • Consumers and families lack information and agency to identify what services they need nor the confidence that when they do get support, it is high quality and will have the outcomes they seek.
  • Health plans and Purchasers lack clarity on what services yield the right outcomes and how to comply with mental health parity rules. 
  • We face an increasingly acute lack of access to licensed, qualified behavioral health professionals, outcomes-driven models of care, and innovative treatment solutions.
  • Despite coverage, reimbursement remains inadequate or impeded for critical high-value services and treatments

Our theory of change takes on a systems approach.

Supported by a Data Collaborative of national delivery and cost data and analytics, our three-pronged approach to MBH system transformation includes:

  • Alignment for Progress – convening stakeholders to achieve consensus on high quality services and treatments to drive payment and systems transformation.

  • Action for Progress – harnessing our collective power to force policy change, enabling system transformation and sustainability

  • Investment for Progress  – guiding investment and innovation for greatest social good and impact.

We need policymakers to take action for progress.

The Action for Progress (501c4) campaign seeks to launch an immediate, effective advocacy and lobbying campaign centered on workable solutions to consumers’ access to high quality mental and behavioral health services, while empowering providers and payor alignment on implementation. The Campaign builds on the national strategy and consensus activities of Alignment for Progress (501c3), and takes a subset of reforms directly to the Hill and Administration for effective adoption and implementation to meet the 2033 goal of having 90% of individuals screened, 90% in evidence-based treatment, and 90% on the road to recovery/making improvement. 

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“Now is the time to act. By leveraging our resources and influence, we can ensure access to essential services and collaborate to make them gateways to broader care…”

Patrick J Kennedy

The Campaign, led by former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, is convening a group of influential, broad stakeholders. The Congressman, along with Campaign members, will directly advocate policy solutions with the objective to:

Demand Transparency for Patients

build the data and reporting infrastructure needed to :

  • Adequately assess and provide decision support for appropriate outcomes-based care,
  • Allow individuals to make coverage and benefit package decisions based on their needs, and
  • Hold state and federal governments accountable for mental health and substance use disorder systems performance.

  • Achieve consensus on quality and outcomes

    to drive accountability in the provision of services, to assess outcomes and ensure consumer voice in behavioral health prevention and treatment, and to facilitated value-based payment reforms;

    Stabilize and Expand Access to Supports that Work

    ensuring the breadth of qualified providers of all types - matching specialty and settings of care to patient needs, but also access to outcomes-forward models of care and service and treatment innovations that deliver efficacy and efficiency across the system.

    Align regulatory environments toward our objectives

    align federal and state regulations to ensure system stakeholders can effectively meet the goal of the 90/90/90.

    We’re wielding advocacy tools for impact.

    • Action Oriented Policy Agenda 
      • Focused on short and long-term policy reforms along our four aims above
    • Federal & State Advocacy
      • Build and re-energize policy champions at all levels
      • Target the Senate Finance and House Mental Health Caucus, and engage White House for a Mental Health Summit
      • Expand efforts in key opportunity states such as Utah, Illinois, Colorado and others
    • Political Campaign Contributions
      • Pool campaign contributions to influence and build policy champions
    • Grassroots Activation
      • Engage individual consumers, practitioners and businesses within key districts
      • Utilize letter writing, phone, and other grassroots strategies like Hill Days and public campaigns
    Joining the Campaign is an Opportunity to:
    • Collaborate and join national thought leaders 
    • Influence national infrastructure development and payment reforms
    • Gain access to a wealth of shared knowledge, research and tools that will enhance your advocacy efforts
    • Be at the forefront of shaping policies that impact mental health care.

    Join us in this campaign!

    If you would like to know more , please contact us at egarcia@healthsperien.com