141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

290662
Economics and adaptation: Implications of the affordable care act for peer support

Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 1:30 PM - 1:50 PM

Richard Frank, PhD , Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
The Affordable Care Act has important implications for all of health and mental health care but may provide unique opportunities and challenges for peer support in both traditional settings and peer-run organizations. In particular, the expansion of Medicaid to single, childless adults – many of whom will have a behavioral health condition – will most certainly impact the demands on peer-run organizations. Because peer support is a non-medical method of support for people in recovery, peer-run organizations are not generally equipped to meet the administrative demands that are required of Medicaid providers. These services have historically been financed through state revenues and the federal mental health block grant. As the size and nature of the block grants are reduced over time, Medicaid reimbursement may become even more important to Peer-Run Organizations and Consumer-Operated Services. This presentation will give an overview of Affordable Care Act provisions that may impact peer-run organizations, with a focus on Medicaid coverage of peer support. As peer specialists are Medicaid-reimbursable in 26 states, we will differentiate between Medicaid reimbursement of peer specialists in traditional settings and those in independent peer-run organizations, and discuss potential advantages of those organizations adapting to changes associated with the Affordable Care Act.

Learning Areas:
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Identify important aspects of the ACA for peer support Describe Medicaid changes associated with the ACA Evaluate pros and cons of Medicaid funding for peer-run organizations

Keywords: Health Insurance, Health Care Reform

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: From 2009 to 2011 I served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at DHHS directing the office of Disability, Aging and Long-Term Care Policy. I am a Professor of Health Economics in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School, conducting research focused on the economics of mental health and substance abuse care, long term care financing policy, and disability policy.
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.