141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

287720
Countdown to january 1st, 2014: Mental health and the affordable care act

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 12:50 PM - 1:10 PM

Suzanne Fields, MSW, LICSW , Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD
We influence public policy regarding mental health and substance use disorders. We're committed to leading the transformation of our nation's health to a preventive health system. Why? In 2011, 1 in 5 American adults had a mental illness (MI); 1:27 experienced suicidal ideation; and one in 12 youths had a major depressive disorder (MDE). Of 45.6 million adults with MI, only 17.4 million (38.2%) received needed care; and 8 million (17.5%) met the criteria for a substance use disorder. Of the 2 million youths with MDE, 36% used illicit drugs compared to 17.4% in the population without a MDE. This presentation will focus on two legislative developments that impact the prevention, treatment and financing of mental health and substance use: the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) and the Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA). The MHPAEA and the ACA supports people with mental health and substance use disorders to receive access to insurance coverage. For many people, it provides a set of essential health benefits that includes early screening, health promotion, and substance use and mental health treatment. While the MHPAEA and the ACA advance an integrated, system of care, we also need to understand the impact of social determinants on mental health and and substance use conditions. There is a continued need to finance preventive, social and public health programs beyond the ACA; and identify opportunities for redirection of dollars and coordination.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Provision of health care to the public
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Define the goals of the MHPAEA and the ACA. Identify the prevention- and access-to treatment provisions of the ACA. Discuss recent regulatory and other guidance related to the organization and financing of mental health and substance use services.

Keywords: Health Reform, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I serve as the senior advisor to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrationon all issues related to health reform, the Affordable Care Act and health care financing. Additionally, I have worked withover 23 states to finance mental health and substance use services through Medicaid and other federal regulations.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.