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Center for Behavioral Health

Advancing Access to Quality Mental Health & Addiction Care

We provide policy guidance, strategic advice, and federal advocacy services to patient groups, providers, employers, innovators, and payors to advance innovative solutions that expand access to high-quality, affordable mental health and addiction care nationwide.

Our Approach to Transforming Behavioral Health

Advance Payment structures that support the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective care that reduce overall costs but are not widely adopted.

Drive consensus on definition and measurement of quality and outcomes in behavioral health.

Develop a pipeline and supports for behavioral health workers, including important specialties like pediatric or SUD specialists, community health workers, and peer support specialists.

Improve data sharing between physical, behavioral, and social health systems to promote whole-person, integrated care and value-based reimbursement.

Promote the wide-spread adoption of novel innovations, evidence-based treatments, and preventive services that improve outcomes for priority populations.

Our Roadmap

Transforming the mental and behavioral health (MBH) system requires a bold, coordinated strategy grounded in data and driven by collective action. Supported by a robust Data Collaborative that integrates national delivery, cost data, and analytics, our approach focuses on interconnected pillars that accelerate meaningful change.

Through our Action for Progress (501c4) sister organization, stakeholders across the behavioral health field advocate for federal and state policy reforms that addresses access, quality, outcomes, payment, and structural reforms to behavioral health.

ACTNow for Mental Health (ANMH) is a non-profit (501c3) organization dedicated to providing direct access to mental health services and supports and  – through the ANMH Action for Progress initiative (501c3) – educating stakeholders on models, systems, and policy reforms needed to transform behavioral health access.  This initiative will include regional convenings to raise awareness and highlight local leaders, stakeholders, employers, and best in class models.

Invest for Progress  – guiding investment, model innovation, and existing model support for social good and scalable impact, supported by data collaboratives to track longitudinal outcomes

Together, these pillars form a strategic foundation for sustainable, equitable improvement in mental and behavioral health.

About the Center

Patrick_Kennedy1

Representative Kennedy leads the Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy at Healthsperien, advancing high-quality, affordable care through policy development, advocacy, and lobbying. He drives this work through the Center’s Action for Progress and Invest for Progress initiatives, partnering with stakeholders to transform the mental health and addiction care system.

“At the Center for Mental Health and Addiction Policy at Healthsperien, we are driving change to build a future where everyone can access the mental health support they need to lead full and meaningful lives. We’re dismantling the separate and unequal treatment of mental health and addiction by advancing integrated care, closing coverage gaps, and pushing forward meaningful policy reforms. We’ve rolled up our sleeves and begun collaborating with colleagues across the stakeholder community to deliver better mental health and overall health care for all Americans.”

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Healthsperien, LLC, is a Washington, D.C.-based health care policy consulting firm focused on strategic, regulatory, legislative and implementation issues.