As part of NBCC’s comprehensive government affairs and advocacy activities, we partner with other behavioral health organizations to advance NBCC’s legislative agenda and collaborate with key associations to promote overall mental health before members of Congress. On June 5, NBCC participated in Hill Day 2024, an event sponsored by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing (NCMW) in Washington, D.C. NBCC was one of the lead advocacy partners in support of Hill Day. Over 500 attendees representing several behavioral health organizations and associations came to Washington to advocate on several policy issues. The 2-day event featured a Public Policy Institute and the opportunity to meet with elected officials to advocate for improved mental health and substance use care.

How Public Policy Can Impact Lives

Panelists highlighted that we have seen a radical shift in behavioral health policy with a huge impact due to:

• Passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), in which mental health and substance use services must be included as part of the “ACA’s Essential Benefits Package” that most health plans and health insurers must offer through the private health insurance market. The ACA also made it illegal to deny coverage due to pre-existing mental health conditions.
• The Medicaid Expansion program, which was part of the ACA legislation, that brought millions of lower-income Americans into the health insurance system and achieved better access to behavioral health services. Medicaid expansion has reduced access problems for adults with depression.
• Mental health parity legislation at the federal and state levels, which has increased coverage and access to care.
• Federal initiatives to address the opioid crisis.
• Creation of the 988 Hotline to increase access to crisis services.

The result of these legislative efforts has been to mainstream behavioral health as a critical part of the overall health care system and a major contributor to improving the lives of millions of Americans who previously did not have access to mental health care.

Phil Rutherford with the National Council said, “We still have significant work to do in providing behavioral health services to people recently released from prisons and jails—especially in the first 30 days—to make sure they do not fall through the cracks.” In addition, panelists noted that despite the progress we have made, considerable societal stigma still prevents many people from seeking and continuing care, and major national communication campaigns are needed to promote prevention and early screening, and that care works.

The institute concluded June 6 with state delegate discussions on key legislative priorities for advocacy including 988 hotline and crisis care improvements, building on the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic model, reauthorizing major programs that support the addiction workforce and funding programs, and policies to expand the mental health workforce.

NBCC is proud to partner with NCMW to advocate for better mental health care. Priority Hill Day legislative asks can be found on the NBCC website. https://www.votervoice.net/NBCCGrassroots/bills