To make sure that mental health and substance use disorders are incorporated in on-going health reform debates, the Whole Health Campaign provides policy briefs with recommendations.
Their work should give the six o'clock news something to chew on besides "will it fly this week?" By talking specifics in the context of known fragmentation, shorter life expectancies, and multiple barriers to receiving multiple types of care, the WHC ramps up the challenge.
One of the WHC recommendations addresses how to pay for services. "Change the fee structure to include effectiveness and comparative effectiveness." And reimburse across illnesses for patient-centered care because "Integrated health care delivery is vitally important."
The WHC membership consists of non-profit advocacy groups who have been fighting for people with mental health and substance use disorders for decades. Put them together in a single room, or signing on to a single document, and you have years of tested experience guiding judgment about what works, what doesn't and how to make heatlh care reform comprehensive.
The policy briefs are available by topic:
