U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius this week announced the availability of $335 million to expand services at community health centers. The funding, which was made available through the Affordable Care Act, will be used to increase access to preventive and primary care services, including behavioral health services. Eligible applicants are existing community health centers; applicants must demonstrate how the funding will be used to expand medical capacity and services to underserved populations in their service areas. Additional information and application instructions are available on the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) website. 

 

 

 

The National Council will be hosting several webinars in the coming weeks, including:

 

Consumers as Partners in Improving Health (co-sponsored by Mental Health America), Nov. 1, 2:00 pm Eastern time: Offering primary care and wellness activities in behavioral health treatment settings is an important milestone, requiring us to rethink types of services and who delivers those services. How do you engage and partner with consumers in designing and implementing services? What does it take to operate a primary care clinic? What are the aspects of health — health promotion and prevention — that must be addressed?  What role can peer educators play? Presenter Charles Willis from the Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network will answer these and many other questions while giving you a chance to share your ideas and experiences. Register here. 

 

Improving Outcomes and Ending Homelessness: Creating Effective Partnerships between Behavioral Health Services &  Housing Providers (co-sponsored by the Corporation for Supportive Housing), Nov. 3, 2:00 pm Eastern time: Too often behavioral health providers have difficulty connecting their clients to housing resources and housing agencies are unaware of the mental health and substance use treatment providers in their community. By working together in partnership, community behavioral health and housing providers can meet their shared goal of helping people with mental illnesses to maintain stable housing and move toward recovery. Presenters will provide background on housing resources targeted to homeless populations and give examples of how housing and behavioral health services providers can partner successfully. Registration is coming soon. 

 

 

 

On Nov. 9, 2010, SAMHSA’s Co-Occurring Disorders Integration and Innovation (CODI) and SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) will host a webinar to discuss the impact of trauma among people receiving behavioral health services and concrete strategies for providing trauma-informed services for people with behavioral health disorders in a range of service settings. According to most estimates, trauma is an almost universal experience among people who use public behavioral health services or who are justice-involved or homeless. Risks associated with trauma include mental health problems, substance use, impaired work performance, physical health problems, and higher mortality rates. During the webinar, presenters will:  

Registration is available online. 

 

 

 

Filing an insurance appeal can be a difficult process for consumers and providers – but if your health plan has denied coverage for mental health and substance abuse services, you are not alone. The federal and state governments have a role in helping consumers enforce their rights under the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addictions Equity law. To learn how to take advantage of the assistance the government can provide, see the Parity Toolkit for Addiction & Mental Health Consumers, Providers & Advocates. This document, assembled by the National Council and our partner organizations in the Parity Implementation Coalition, provides expert guidance and advice to help you understand your rights under the parity law and successfully appeal denials by health plans. The toolkit includes a section on steps to take if your appeal fails, including ways that the federal or state government can help. For additional resources, visit the Parity page of the National Council’s website.