Advocacy & Education | Behavioral Health Today

SAMHSA announces a working definition of “recovery” from mental disorders and substance use disorders

Date: 12/22/2011 10:00 AM Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office Telephone: 240-276-2130

A new working definition of recovery from mental disorders and substance use disorders is being announced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The definition is the product of a year-long effort by SAMHSA and a wide range of partners in [...]

The Center for Consumer Information & Insurance Oversight (CCIIO) Issues Parity FAQs

The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) supplemented the Mental Health Parity Act of 1996 (MHPA). Generally, MHPAEA specifies that the financial requirements and treatment limitations imposed on mental health and substance use disorder benefits cannot be more restrictive than the predominant financial requirements and treatment limitations that apply to [...]

AMA Adopts New Policies: Support for Health Insurance Exchanges and a Call to Stop ICD-10 in its Tracks

NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 15, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The American Medical Association (AMA), the nation’s largest physician organization, voted today during the closing session of its semi-annual policy-making meeting to adopt the following new policies:

Guidelines for Health Insurance Exchanges

The AMA today adopted new policies on the health insurance exchanges created by the [...]

IOM’s Recommended “Essential Health Benefits” Risk Minimal Behavioral Health Benefits

Source: Behavioral Healthcare – Issue Date: Online Exclusive 10/27/11

The Essential Health Benefit: Will Essential Become Minimal? “Nearsighted” IOM recommendations fail to consider long-term value of behavioral health benefits

by Ron Manderscheid, PhD

While every element of health reform in the United States is important to the future of mental health and substance [...]

Oregon’s Mental Health Parity Law Improves Coverage at Minimal Cost

Study that appears in the American Journal of Psychiatry shows that state’s experience may presage outcomes of new federal law By: Oregon Health & Science University

September 12, 2011 – Oregon’s mental health parity law, which prohibits commercial health plans from imposing limits on mental health and substance abuse services that are not also [...]

CDC takes new steps to combat childhood obesity…without direct behavioral health involvement

Research project will focus on doctors, communities and families to help children make healthy choices

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today launched a new effort to address childhood obesity using successful elements of both primary care and public health. Funding made available through the Affordable Care Act will support a four [...]

Kaiser Reports: Parents Fear Health Law Could Derail Autism Coverage

By Phil Galewitz KHN Staff Writer

Sep 24, 2011

Autism treatment advocates have won one legislative battle after another since 2007, most recently in California, which sent a bill to the governor this month mandating that insurers cover the disorder. Now more than half the states have such requirements, but that success could be in [...]

Affordable Care Act helps one million additional young adults get health insurance

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 21, 2011 Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343 New data: Affordable Care Act helps one million additional young adults get health insurance

Today, the National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data illustrating that the Affordable Care Act has helped increase [...]

Clarity and Guidance Needed Now More Than Ever: Parity & Equity in Medicaid Managed Care Plans

Providers around the country are observing that State Medicaid Agencies implementing statewide managed care procurements are making potentially challengeable determinations about the need for compliance by managed care plans with the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA). Passed in 2008 and in effect since October of 2009, the parity law further extends [...]

New Illinois Parity Law Recognizes State Funded Addiction Treatment Providers

Community-based addiction treatment providers named specifically in law as covered providers

(Springfield, ILLINOIS) – In a move that raises the bar for addiction treatment advocates and legislators in other states, state-funded addiction treatment providers were specifically codified in to law as covered providers when Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the Illinois Mental Health [...]

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