NAMD Highlights Opportunities to Strengthen Behavioral Health in Response to Senate Finance Request

In September 2021 the Senate Finance Committee put out a request for information on policy approaches to improve our country’s behavioral healthcare system. NAMD gathered input from our members on opportunities for federal action to improve our systems of care for mental health and substance use. Our final letter includes policy recommendations like considering repealing the “institutions for mental diseases” exclusion, allowing payment for room and board costs associated with evidence-based behavioral health services, strengthening crisis continuums of care, and supporting the integration of primary care and behavioral health. Together, these federal actions would support states’ efforts to make behavioral healthcare more accessible, affordable, and high-quality.