The Path Forward for Mental Health and Substance Use initiative improves access to effective behavioral health care

Initiative is a partnership of employer, physician and policy groups to combat the mental health and substance use public health crisis
 

Rates of suicide and drug-related deaths are at record levels. This crisis is being exacerbated by inadequate access to care for mental health and substance use for Americans across the country. To realign market forces to focus on a more sustainable approach and ensure affordable access to high-value, effective treatment, a group of influential nonprofits has partnered to implement The Path Forward for Mental Health and Substance Use.

The National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychiatric Association Foundation Center for Workplace Mental Health and Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute have established The Path Forward initiative to execute a disciplined, private-sector approach to systematically and measurably improve five established best practices of mental health and substance use care.

“We’ve made great progress in improving acceptance and reducing stigma around mental health,” said Michael Thompson, National Alliance President & CEO. “However, at the same time, affordable access to all levels of behavioral treatment continues to decline – we can no longer stand by and let this continue to happen.”

The collaborative focuses on clear and attainable reforms and demonstrable outcomes. The Path Forward also leverages the influence of employers and regional employer coalitions motivated for change, supported by the technical expertise and guidance of leading behavioral health experts. Unique to this collaboration is disciplined and intensive engagement teams focused on six regions that will be leveraged nationwide.

 “Through this program we aim to create a systemic tipping point with the potential of helping anyone who needs mental health or addiction care get it, wherever and whenever they need it,” said Andy Keller, PhD, President and CEO of Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute. “A country where every person with depression is cared for in the same way that they receive care for their heart disease or diabetes is within our grasp but can only be achieved through this type of unprecedented, transformational cooperation.”

Five Priority Strategies

Five Priority Strategies that constitute the nation’s best opportunity to positively transform behavioral health care at a population level will be implemented to move forward in improving access to effective detection and treatment. These best practices, derived from eValue8, a National Alliance tool that defines, measures and evaluates health plan performance, include:

1. Improve network access for behavioral health specialists
2. Expand use of collaborative care to integrate behavioral health into primary care
3. Implement measurement-based care to improve quality and outcomes
4. Expand tele-behavioral health
5. Ensure mental health parity compliance

“There is a critical need in the U.S. to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment, and by raising the awareness of mental health issues with employers and connecting employees to treatment, we will see an increase in employee productivity, lower absenteeism and presenteeism, and decreases in overall healthcare cost,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, MD, MPA. “The APA and the APA Foundation have been developing resources for employers to ensure their employees have access to high-quality, evidence-based mental healthcare.”

The Path Forward overview