ASAM Endorses the Better Mental Health Care for Americans Act Within Large Coalition

On May 23rd, ASAM endorsed the Better Mental Health Care for Americans Act of 2023 ("the Act") in a letter spearheaded by the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) to U.S. Senators Bennet and Wyden. The coalition strongly endorsed provisions of the Act that 1) expand the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act's (MHPAEA) protections to Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and all of Medicaid; 2) improve accuracy of provider directories for Medicare Advantage plans that in part combat "ghost networks;" 3) address the longstanding problems on inadequate reimbursement rates for mental health/substance use disorder (MH/SUD) services in Medicare and Medicaid, including for integrated services; 4) integrate MH/SUD care into primary care by increasing reimbursement and addressing cost-sharing; 5) support the establishment of a Medicaid demonstration project for integrated mental health care for children in settings like schools, pediatric primary care practices, and community organizations; and 6) require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to align payments, measure access and quality, improve prevention services for mental health care, and bring together payers to transform behavioral health within primary care; and thus, improve access to MH/SUD services for millions of Americans.

Read the letter here.