Oral

This session provides a panel discussion on the impact of health reform for mental health services. Panelists will discuss challenges facing mental health policymakers to preserve and develop needed services and strategies for reform taking shape at various levels of local and state government. David Shern, PhD, president and CEO of Mental Health America, will talk about the implications of health reform for individuals with mental illness and their families. Lorez Meinhold, chief health care policy advisor for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and director of health reform implementation for the state, will mental health transformation built at the community level. Ron Manderscheid, PhD, executive director of the National Association of County Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Directors will focus on national health reform and the challenges facing county behavioral healthcare systems.

Session Objectives: Describe the impact of health reform for mental health services. Discuss challenges and strategies for reform taking shape among county behavioral health systems. Describe strategies states can use to build grass roots support for mental health service transformation under national health reform.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)