Advocating for Access and Coverage in Behavioral Health

Latest AHA News

Report calls for national strategy to reduce drug, alcohol and suicide deaths 11/21/17

President's opioid commission issues final report 11/1/17

New CMS waiver policy aims to expand Medicaid treatments for SUDs 11/1/17

OCR issues HIPAA guidance for providers responding to opioid crisis 10/30/17

Accreditor issues guidance on environmental safeguards to prevent suicide 10/27/17

President declares opioid epidemic a national public health emergency 10/26/17

House panel assesses agencies' progress in implementing opioid laws 10/25/17

AHA toolkit offers guidance to help hospitals address opioid epidemic 10/24/17

CMS issues FAQs on Medicaid/CHIP mental health parity rule 10/17/17

Dozens of House members testify at hearing on opioid crisis 10/11/17

AHA recommends federal actions to address opioid crisis 10/5/17

CMS seeks comments on new approach to Innovation Center 9/20/17

'Behavioral vaccine' for teen depression 9/20/17

CMS to issue guidance before implementing ligature risk requirements 9/5/17

HHS appoints public members to federal mental health committee 8/17/17

Trump to declare national emergency on opioid abuse 8/11/17

Senate passes FDA Reauthorization Act 8/4/17

President urged to declare opioid epidemic national emergency 8/1/17

House holds hearing on state efforts to combat opioid crisis 7/12/17

Bipartisan governors' network issues health reform priorities 6/20/17

SAMHSA reports on behavioral health, treatment trends 6/12/17

HHS announces $70 million in funding to address opioid crisis 5/31/17

SAMHSA announces grants to implement suicide prevention model 5/24/17

President names five to commission on opioid crisis 5/11/17

President nominates HHS assistant secretaries for health, mental health 4/24/17

Looking for older behavioral health news? Click here to visit the news archive.

For the latest AHA News on the opioid epidemic, click here.

For the latest H&HN stories on behavioral health, click here.

Federal Legislative and Regulatory Activities

The 21 Century Cures Act

AHA Legislative Advisory: The 21 Century Cures Act 12/7/16

Comprehensive Behavioral Health Reform

AHA to Sen. McConnell Re: Senate Vote on Meaningful Mental Health Reform Legislation (August 29, 2016)

AHA to Sen. Reid Re: Support for Senate Action on Meaningful Mental Health Reform Legislation (August 29, 2016)

Medicaid and Mental Health Parity in Medicaid, CHIP

Senators urge CMS to remove IMD exclusion for substance abuse treatment (August 3, 2016)

CMS creates mailbox for questions on Medicaid/CHIP mental health parity rule (July 22, 2016)

Special Bulletin: CMS Finalizes Rule on Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Parity for Medicaid and CHIP (March 30, 2016)

AHA Regulatory Advisory - CMS Issues Final Medicaid Equal Access Rule (November 19, 2015)

AHA Regulatory Advisory – Proposed Rule on Managed Care for Medicaid and CHIP (June 29, 2015)

Addressing the Opioid Epidemic

AHA Statement for Senate HELP Committee Hearing on Opioids (October 5, 2017)

Special Bulletin: Progress on Addressing the Opioid Epidemic (July 14, 2016)

Advisory: Ending the Opioid Epidemic: New Patient Education Tool and Other Resources for Hospitals (June 2016)

Letter: Health organizations to House leaders: Amending the privacy laws of 42 CFR Part 2 to address opioid crisis (May 10, 2016)

Letter: AHA urges reassessment of HCAHPS survey pain questions (April 28, 2016)

Letter to House Committee on Energy and Commerce supporting bills to address the opioid epidemic (April 26, 2016)

Letter of support to Senate sponsors of S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (March 1, 2016)

For more on the Opioid Epidemic, click here.

Behavioral Health Key Issue Topics

For additional resources on key issues related to behavioral health, click here.