Federal Leadership and a Shared Commitment

The program opened with welcoming remarks from Patrick J. Kennedy, former Member of Congress and Leader of the Center for Behavioral Health at Action for Progress, alongside Tom Koutsoumpas, President and Founder of Healthsperien. Together, they framed the day around a shared responsibility to move beyond fragmented approaches and toward sustained, measurable solutions.

A fireside conversation followed with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 26th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, who discussed the Administration’s vision for addressing addiction and mental health as core components of national health policy. The discussion underscored the need to align federal grants, programs, and leadership across agencies to support prevention, treatment, and long-term recovery.

Additional fireside discussions featured Mehmet Oz, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, who spoke about CMS’s commitment to behavioral health and the importance of accountability, access, and outcomes across Medicare and Medicaid.

Later in the program, Alex J. Adams, Assistant Secretary for the Administration for Children & Families, joined a fireside discussion focused on children, youth, and family-centered approaches—highlighting early intervention, prevention, and community integration as critical levers for long-term impact.

The day also included conversations with Thomas Keane, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, on the role of health IT, interoperability, and data in driving better behavioral health outcomes, and Marty Makary, Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who addressed innovation, evidence, and the regulatory pathways needed to support effective care.

From Policy to Practice: Themes That Emerged

Across a series of panels and expert discussions, participants explored how national policy priorities can translate into real-world impact. Conversations focused on:

• Integrating prevention and chronic disease care, recognizing behavioral health as foundational to overall health
• Early intervention and community-based models, particularly for children, adolescents, and families
• Whole-person care, addressing physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual health
• Data-driven and technology-enabled solutions, including measurement, accountability, and scalable models for impact
• Cross-sector collaboration, breaking down silos between government, health systems, plans, technology, and community organizations

Speakers consistently emphasized that progress will require alignment across policy, practice, technology, and investment—paired with a commitment to outcomes and accountability.

A Call to Action

The convening concluded with a clear call to action from Patrick J. Kennedy: to work together across sectors to ignite durable change and build a behavioral health system that is preventive, integrated, and centered on people and communities.

As agencies move forward with implementation of the Great American Recovery Initiative, the launch of Action for Progress established a foundation for long-term partnership and continued dialogue—focused not just on ideas, but on execution and impact.

What Comes Next

Action for Progress is just getting started. This convening marked the beginning of an ongoing effort to convene leaders, surface solutions, and support policies that advance addiction and mental health care nationwide.

Healthsperien looks forward to continuing this work alongside federal partners, practitioners, innovators, and advocates committed to turning shared commitment into sustained progress.

Read the Press Release