A video recording of this event will be available shortly.
Millions of people depend on Medicaid for their health care — and it is the nation’s largest payer of behavioral health services. Yet, far too many Medicaid members face serious obstacles accessing the mental health and substance use care they need. This challenge is especially urgent in rural and under-resourced communities, where provider shortages and limited resources often leave individuals without timely, appropriate care. For many people, emergency departments and the criminal justice system become points of entry for behavioral health care — rather than last resorts.
Medicaid holds some of the most important levers available for strengthening access to essential behavioral health services. In this virtual panel hosted by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), state leaders from Colorado, Massachusetts, and Wyoming shared how they are tackling behavioral health challenges and using Medicaid policy to improve access to high-quality care in their states. Panelists explored how states can expand access, improve coordination, and modernize behavioral health care through cross-sector partnerships, workforce development, cross-agency data sharing, and integrated approaches to care.
This panel kicked off a series of CHCS webinar discussions focused on behavioral health and Medicaid. Future installments will focus on the behavioral health workforce, community-based care, and Medicaid strategies for improving substance use disorder prevention and treatment.
Agenda
I. Welcome
Speaker: Allison Hamblin, CHCS President and CEO
A. Hamblin provided a welcome and opening remarks.
II. Overview of Medicaid and Behavioral Health Landscape
Speaker: Allison Hamblin, CHCS
A. Hamblin provided context and an overview of Medicaid’s role in behavioral health, including the need for innovation and reform in care design, access, finance, and delivery.
III. Panel: Medicaid Innovation in Improving Access to Behavioral Health Care
A. Hamblin moderated a panel discussion with three state leaders exploring emerging strategies and innovations in state Medicaid and behavioral health improvement and reform.
Panelists:
- Cristen Bates, MPH, Deputy Medicaid Director and Director for Colorado Behavioral Health Initiatives, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
- Lee Robinson, MD, Associate Chief for Behavioral Health, Office of Accountable Care and Behavioral Health, MassHealth
- Lee Grossman, MPA, Senior Administrator and State Medicaid Agent (Director), Wyoming Department of Health
IV. Audience Q&A
V. Closing
