Mental Health

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated Medicare.gov with an easy-to-navigate section highlighting the mental health and substance use disorder services covered by Medicare. This is part of CMS' Behavioral Health Strategy to ensure that high-quality behavioral health services and supports are accessible to the people CMS serves. This section includes information on: Services & programs Medicare covers; Types of mental health care; Preventive screenings & counseling; Finding a mental health care provider

On May 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Informational Bulletin encouraging states to leverage available opportunities in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder services for eligible individuals experiencing homelessness. Topics covered include: Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Demonstration ; Section 1115 Demonstrations for Improving Community Reentry Following Incarceration ; Addressing Health-Related Social Needs ; Section 1115 Demonstrations Focusing on Improving Treatment for Substance Use ; Additional Resources

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) has recently released resources to guide individuals in understanding mental health benefits and their rights. One such publication, "Understanding Your Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Benefits," provides information on accessing mental health services covered by job-based health plans. Additionally, for parents, family members, or other caregivers for someone in need of or using mental health or substance use disorder benefits, "Understanding Parity: A Guide to Resources for Families and Caregivers," provides information and tools necessary to secure behavioral health services for their loved ones.

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMS Innovation Center) recently announced a new state-based model, Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH), to test approaches for addressing behavioral and physical health, as well as health-related social needs among the Medicaid and Medicare populations. The IBH Model’s goal is to improve the overall quality of care and outcomes for adults with mental health conditions and/or substance use disorder by connecting them with the physical, behavioral, and social supports needed to manage their care. The model will also promote health information technology capacity building through infrastructure payments and other activities...

The AHRQ Academy has released a new guide on health equity and behavioral health integration designed to help practices reduce health disparities and advance health equity by promoting belonging, dignity and justice for providers and patients from marginalized groups. The AHRQ Academy aims to support the integration of behavioral health into primary and ambulatory care settings with a focus on providing care for patients using substances, particularly opioids, and for those with mental health conditions. This guide provides tools and resources for addressing economic and social inequities, bias, discrimination and racism.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is working with states to promote access to Medicaid services for people with mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) crises. Authorized under President Biden’s American Rescue Plan (ARP), states have a new option for supporting community-based mobile crisis intervention services for individuals with Medicaid. This option will help states integrate these services into their Medicaid programs, a critical component in establishing a sustainable and public health-focused support network.

This blog post by Keri Lipperini, ACL's Director of the Office of Nutrition and Health Promotion Programs, discusses how social isolation during COVID-19 has affected the health and wellbeing of older adults. The post also highlights ACL programs that are targeting this issue, including PEARLS, Healthy IDEAS, and BRITE, which are three evidence-based programs that aim to reduce the risk of suicide by tackling depression and substance abuse among older adults.

ACL is announcing two new grants to University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research, and Service (UCEDDs) including Community-Based Transitions Planning and Implementation Grants and a National Training Initiative to Support People with IDD Experiencing Co-Occurring Mental/Behavioral Health Issues.

ACL’s Administration on Aging funds “Innovations in Nutrition” grants to support the quality, effectiveness, and outcomes of the nutrition programs funded through the Older Americans Act. The nutrition programs work to reduce food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition; enhance socialization; and promote the health and well-being of older adults. This guest blog post features Innovations in Nutrition grantees as they describe how one project is helping build capacity within the aging network.

The Center on Aging and Trauma of The Jewish Federations of North America’s Holocaust Survivor Initiative, invites organizations to participate in a national survey on PCTI Care. This ACL grantee is working to build the capacity of aging service providers to provide PCTI care to older adults with a history of trauma as well as their family caregivers. They are conducting this survey to collect information on the current capacity of organizations to provide this type of care.