Behavioral Health – Join the Conversation
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is looking for updated or new payment models and will be looking for community input from leaders and professional in the areas of mental health treatment and how providers will be reimbursed for the care of this patient population.
The model is meant to improve the following for patients with behavioral health conditions:
- Healthcare Care Quality
- Provide Better Access
- Lower the Cost of Medicare, Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance
According to a Federal Register publication, The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Center will test a new payment service delivery model, aiming to address patients who have substance use disorders, mental disorders in the presence of co-occurring conditions, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia and behavioral health workforce challenges.
Americans have no real idea what forms of changes will be made to the Affordable Care Act. Regardless of this, CMS will hold these public hearings in the hope that there may be further clarity on this health care benefit.
Our Nation’s leadership including the President has taken to openly speaking about factors affecting mental health including the current emphasis on opioid use. Mental health and it’s ignored treatment often leaves a very private trail of not so obvious public destruction. These individuals suffer in silence as cameras, blogs and news outlets are not reporting the recurring outcomes of suffering mental health patients. Recent pop stars, musicians, actors and other public figures are becoming characters in this discussion. The requirement of having safe, practical, ongoing and proven treatment must not be compromised
CMS must consider expanding their current payment model. There is evidence that mental health illness left untreated will lead to conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiac episodes, liver and kidney disease and a whole host of maladies.
We cannot afford to limit financial responsibility or access to those devoted healthcare centers and providers. We must press forward.
Let your voice be heard Friday, September 8th, 2017 registration for the Summit today. – https://innovation.cms.gov/resources/behavioral-health-paymentcare-summit.html
CMS Innovation Center Behavioral Health Payment and Care Delivery Innovation Summit (Agenda)
Friday, September 8, 2017
10:00AM – 10:45AM Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:45AM – 10:50AM Transition to Panels
10:50AM – 11:55AM Substance Use Disorder Session
Presenters will discuss the challenges in providing and paying for care needed and used to address substance use disorders, including lessons learned from current practices/initiatives.
11:55AM – 12:05PM Break
12:05PM – 1:10PM Mental Health and Co-Occurring Conditions Session
Presenters will discuss the challenges in providing and paying for care needed and used to address mental health and co-occurring conditions, including lessons learned from current practices/initiatives.
1:10PM – 2:10PM Lunch on your own (see Attend page for local information) – CMS Cafeteria
2:15PM – 3:25PM Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Session
Presenters will discuss the challenges in providing and paying for coordinated care, in-home and community-based services, and caregiver support programs for Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, including lessons learned from current practices/initiatives.
3:25PM – 3:35PM Break
3:35PM – 4:45PM Behavioral Health Workforce Challenges
Presenters will discuss the challenges in the behavioral health workforce, including practices/initiatives that are used to address these challenges to recruit, train, and retain qualified providers.
4:45PM – 5:00PM Closing Remarks