/ en Fri, 15 Aug 2025 17:09:35 -0500 Tue, 12 Aug 25 06:15:00 -0500 /aha-center-health-innovation-market-scan/2025-08-12-4-rpm-innovative-practices-behavioral-health-patients <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/4-RPM-Innovative-Practices-for-Behavioral-Health-Patients.png" data-entity-uuid="bb76fdcf-587f-465e-9f9f-2685ee291376" data-entity-type="file" alt="4 RPM Innovative Practices for Behavioral Health Patients. A patient wears a behavioral health remote patient monitoring (RPM) wearable on her wrist which displays a brain with the left hemisphere blue and the right hemisphere green." width="1200" height="751"><p>Rapidly evolving remote patient monitoring (RPM) tools for behavioral health patients are giving clinicians more ways to track their progress between visits. This is a critical time for these patients, when their symptoms may shift, crises develop or early warning signs go unnoticed. At the same time, patients increasingly are managing their health outside traditional settings, using smartphones, wearables and digital tools that track mood, sleep, activity and substance-use triggers.</p><h2>Making Sense of Current Research</h2><p><a href="https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/8/e051844" target="_blank" title="BMJ Journals: Factors influencing the effectiveness of remote patient monitoring interventions: a realist review">Research</a> shows that RPM can be especially valuable in behavioral health to catch early signs of worsening symptoms, enhance personalized care, support self-management and improve coordination among providers, notes Jorge R. Petit, M.D., in a <a href="https://cantatahealth.com/resource/blog/the-evolution-and-growth-of-remote-patient-monitoring-in-behavioral-health/" target="_blank" title="Cantata Health Solutions: Beyond Clinic Walls: The Evolution and Growth of Remote Patient Monitoring in Behavioral Health">recent blog</a>.</p><p>Petit, chief clinical adviser at Cantata Health Solutions, which provides health tech solutions for behavioral health and other providers, recently explored best practices and real-world challenges that clinicians face in the current health care landscape. As a 2024 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38653884/" target="_blank" title="PubMed: Challenges and Facilitators in Implementing Remote Patient Monitoring Programs in Primary Care">Journal of General Internal Medicine report</a> outlines, common barriers include:</p><ul><li><strong>Too much data with no clear process for reviewing it.</strong></li><li><strong>Limited staff capacity.</strong></li><li><strong>Unclear reimbursement.</strong></li><li><strong>Gaps in digital access and literacy.</strong></li></ul><p>These issues are even more pronounced in behavioral health settings, Petit writes, especially in rural areas where infrastructure and staffing can be stretched.</p><p>For RPM to fulfill its promise and become a more commonly used tool in behavioral health, Petit argues that it needs to be more than a technology solution. He says it must fit into clinical workflows, and digital solutions need to be flexible, person-centered and responsive to both patient and clinician needs.</p><h2>4 Ways RPM Is Reshaping Behavioral Health</h2><h3><span>1</span> <span>|</span> Wearables to Monitor Sleep, Heart Rate Variability and Physical Activity</h3><p>Wearables enable continuous, noninvasive tracking of physiological data such as sleep patterns, heart-rate variability, step counts and activity levels. In behavioral health, these metrics can serve as proxies for emotional distress, relapse risk or changes in psychiatric symptoms. They also can help in a variety of ways, such as detecting early warning signs of mood shifts in patients with bipolar disorder (e.g., decreased sleep preceding mania).</p><h3><span>2</span> <span>|</span> Mobile Apps for Mood Tracking, Journaling and Self-Reporting Symptoms</h3><p>These apps allow patients to input mood ratings, sleep quality, medication adherence or journal thoughts and feelings. Examples may include daily mood tracking for depression and anxiety, cognitive behavior therapy-based exercises (CBT) for insomnia or journaling to process trauma. They facilitate self-awareness, pattern recognition and often include psycho-education and therapy tools.</p><h3><span>3</span> <span>|</span> Passive Sensing to Detect Behavioral Change</h3><p>Passive sensing refers to data collected without active patient input, using smartphone sensors, voice or text behavior. These tools detect subtle behavioral and cognitive shifts that may signal worsening symptoms or relapse, such as detecting digital behavior patterns (screen time, social withdrawal, movement) in youth mental health or predicting relapse risk in substance-use disorder based on behavioral deviations.</p><h3><span>4</span> <span>|</span> Geofencing and Digital Contingency Management to Prevent Relapse</h3><p>Geofencing uses GPS or location tracking to identify whether an individual enters high-risk zones (e.g., liquor stores, areas with past drug use). Digital contingency management uses incentives (rewards, reinforcement) to promote such desired behaviors as therapy/appointment attendance, medication adherence, physical activity or completing a CBT program.</p><p>In addition, voice-based mental health screenings can offer real-time insights for patients and clinicians. And tech innovations like <a href="https://www.neuroflow.com/neuroflow-publishes-groundbreaking-research-detecting-suicidal-ideation/" target="_blank" title="NeuroFlow: NeuroFlow Publishes Groundbreaking Research Establishing New Methods for Detecting Suicidal Ideation">NeuroFlow</a> are providing context to identify suicidal risk.</p><p><a href="/concord/case-studies/neuroflow-jefferson" target="_blank" title="AHA: NeuroFlow Helps Jefferson Reduce ED Visits by 34%">Jefferson Health</a> partnered with NeuroFlow to embed behavioral health into primary care and OB-GYN clinics. Using remote screening and evidence-based care pathways, the platform identifies rising-risk patients and connects them to appropriate resources. Since implementation, Jefferson has reduced emergency department utilization by 34%.</p><p>A recent study published in the <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41347-024-00478-8" target="_blank" title="Springer Nature Link Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science: Predicting Risk of Suicidal Ideation with Digital Ecological Momentary Assessment of Sleep, Stress, Mood, and Pain: Implications for Tech-Enabled Suicide Prevention">Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science</a> shows how digital tools can transform suicide-risk detection by leveraging self-reported data and artificial intelligence-driven risk stratification.</p><h2>RPM in Behavioral Health</h2><p>While Petit notes that there is no single standard for RPM in behavioral health, organizations like the <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/resource/ebp/telehealth-treatment-serious-mental-illness-substance-use-disorders" target="_blank" title="SAMHSA: Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders">Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration</a>, the <a href="https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatrists/practice/mental-health-apps" target="_blank" title="American Psychiatric Association: App Advisor: An American Psychiatric Association Initiative">American Psychiatric Association</a> and the <a href="https://www.americantelemed.org/?s=rpm" target="_blank" title="American Telemedicine Association: RPM search results">American Telemedicine Association</a> offer interim best-practice recommendations, including:</p><h3>Clinical Integration</h3><p>RPM tools should be used as extensions of care — not stand-alone solutions. Clinicians must be able to interpret data in context and integrate insights into treatment planning.</p><h3>Patient-Centered Design</h3><p>Clients should be involved in the selection, onboarding and feedback process for any RPM solution. Usability and digital literacy should be considered to avoid drop-off.</p><h3>Data Security and Consent</h3><p>All platforms must be HIPAA-compliant, with transparent policies around data use, storage and patient consent.</p><h3>Equity and Access</h3><p>RPM strategies must be designed to address such issues as language barriers, device access and culturally relevant content.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><p><a href="/center" title="Visit the AHA Center for Health Innovation landing page."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/logo-aha-innovation-center-color-sm.jpg" data-entity-uuid="7ade6b12-de98-4d0b-965f-a7c99d9463c5" alt="AHA Center for Health Innovation logo" width="721" height="130" data-entity- type="file" class="align-center"></a></p><p><a href="/center/form/innovation-subscription"><img src="/sites/default/files/2019-04/Market_Scan_Call_Out_360x300.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type alt width="360" height="300"></a></p></div></div></div>.field_featured_image { position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } .featured-image{ position: absolute; overflow: hidden; clip: rect(0 0 0 0); height: 1px; width: 1px; margin: -1px; padding: 0; border: 0; } h2 { color: #9d2235; } div.sticky { position: sticky; top: 0; } Tue, 12 Aug 2025 06:15:00 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /role-hospitals-depression-care-without-delay-musc-experts-app-shows-promising-results <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-9"><div class="col-md-5"><p><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/ths-musc-moodivate-700x532.jpg" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Telling the Hospital Story. MUSC expert’s app shows promising results in depression care" width="700" height="532"></p></div><p>When a patient has depression, often the first medical professional to spot it is their primary care provider, thanks to routine screenings many offices offer. However, getting under the care of a behavioral health professional may involve a long wait — and the patient needs help now.</p><p>Jennifer Dahne, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, developed the free Moodivate app (available on both <a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mental-health-coach-moodivate/id1518592206" target="_blank">iOS</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.moodivate" target="_blank">Android</a>) to address the immediate need for behavioral health care so patients can get help without a long wait time or even an insurance co-pay.</p><p>Moodivate is a self-directed app that relies on behavioral action therapy, which encourages patients to engage in activities that they enjoy or find meaningful. Users select measurable goals relating to health, relationships, education/career, daily responsibilities, recreation or a combination of these. After creating their goals, users can check off their completed actions and rate their daily mood. Every two weeks the app invites users to re-assess their depression.</p><p>“With behavioral activation, we help a patient to change what they're doing to change how they're feeling,” said Dahne. “Patients often think they can’t do something new or different until they feel better. An early goal of treatment is to change that perception and help patients to realize that their mood is influenced by what they do in their day-to-day lives.”</p><p>In the trial, patients using the Moodivate app were three times more likely to experience meaningful improvement and over twice as likely to achieve remission.</p><p>“The app is like a therapist in your pocket,” said Dahne. “It helps patients to develop this new skill set. When they’re feeling down, they can change what they are doing in their day-to-day lives, knowing from experience that these changes can help to improve their mood. The hope is that access to the app will help with long-term recovery.”</p><p><a class="btn btn-primary" href="https://web.musc.edu/about/news-center/2025/04/14/mood-improving-app"><strong>LEARN MORE</strong></a></p></div><div class="col-md-3"><div><h4>Resources on the Role of Hospitals</h4><ul><li><a href="/topics/innovation">Innovation, Research and Quality Improvement</a></li><li><a href="/roleofhospitals">All Case Studies</a></li></ul></div></div></div></div> Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:15:39 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /education-events/measuring-success-and-scaling-impact <div class="raw-html-embed"> #block-mainpagecontent article > div > div > div.col-md-8{ width: 100%; } .panel-body { display: flex; flex-flow: row; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px 10px; } .panel-body>div{ /*border:solid 1px red;*/ margin-bottom:10px } .page-header {order: 1; flex-basis:100%} .event-format {order: 2; flex-grow: 1} .event-dates {order: 3; flex-grow: 1;} .event-cost {order: 4; flex-grow: 1; flex-basis: 25%} .event-type {order: 5; flex-basis: 33%} .event-host {order: 8; flex-grow: 1;} .event-contact-info {order: 6; flex-grow: 2; flex-basis: 33%} .event-description {order: 3; flex-grow: 1} .event-sponsors {order: 9; flex-grow: 1;} .event-registration-link {order: 9;margin: auto 15%;} .page-header{ margin: 0px 0 10px; } h1{ margin:0px } h3{ margin:0px } h4{ color:#003087; font-size:27px; } </div><div class="row"> -- Form --><div class="col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 center_body"><h4>AHA Affinity Forum Session Three</h4><p>In session three of the <a href="/affinity-forum/population-behavioral-health" title="View the whole series">AHA Affinity Forum</a>, participants will discover how hospitals can effectively measure and scale their mental health initiatives, learning from real-world case studies and implementation strategies. Register to explore how to define key performance indicators (KPIs), apply analytics to refine interventions and identify scalable models that drive lasting impact on quality indicators, health outcomes and on budgets. Participants will be guided in setting meaningful metrics and reporting outcomes to support program growth.</p><p>This session will last 60 minutes to allow time for the panel discussion and interaction with attendees. Submit your questions ahead of time to contribute to the discussion and address issues that are unique to your organization or role.</p><p><strong>Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025: </strong><br><strong>12:00 p.m. CT – 1:00 p.m. CT</strong><br> </p><p> </p></div><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6"><div class="TargetLocationAA"> Moved Form Here...... </p> --> //const targetSelectorXX = '#CRAZYtestID'; // Replace with your element's ID selector //const targetSelectorXX = ('.CRAZYtestClass'); // Replace with your element's Class selector const targetSelectorXX = ('.aha-event-reg-container'); const observer = new MutationObserver((mutationsList, observer) => { const element = document.querySelector(targetSelectorXX); if (element) { console.log('Element is now on the page:', element); // Run your code here //alert("This is an alert message!"); // Select the element with the class name const elementToMoveB = document.querySelector('.aha-event-reg-container'); // Select the target section where the element will be moved const targetSectionB = document.querySelector('.TargetLocationAA'); // Move the element by appending it to the target section if (elementToMoveB && targetSectionB) { targetSectionB.appendChild(elementToMoveB); } else { console.error('Element or target section not found!'); } //END your code here observer.disconnect(); // Stop observing once the element is found } }); observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true }); </div> Panel Discussion Replay </h4> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> </div> <a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary ext" href="/system/files/media/file/2024/12/aha-affinity-forum_CENTEGIX_Session1_layered-approach.pdf" target="_blank" title="View the presentation/deck from the panel discussion" rel="noopener nofollow">Presentation / Deck</a> --></div> <div> <aside> <h3> Reserve Your Spot </h3> <div class="raw-html-embed">   MktoForms2.loadForm("//sponsors.aha.org", "710-ZLL-651", 4218); MktoForms2.whenReady(function(form) { if(form.getId() == 4218) { form.onSuccess(function(values, followUpUrl) { form.getFormElem().hide(); document.getElementById("successAndErrorMessages").innerHTML = ` <p> Thank you for your RSVP. Check your email for a save-the-date message to add to your calendar.<\/p>`; return false; }); }; }); <div id="successAndErrorMessages">   </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> --></div><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-1"> </div><div class="col-sm-10"> /* people */ .people { margin-top: 25px; } .people img:nth-child(1) { border-radius: 200px; -moz-border-radius: 200px; -webkit-border-radius: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px } .people img:nth-child(1):hover { opacity: .7 } @media (max-width:991px) { .people { margin: auto; } .people p { text-align: center } } .ci_profile { margin-bottom: 30px; display: block; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_profile { text-align: center } } .ci_profile p { margin: 0 0 7px 0 } .ci_profile_name { font-weight: 700; font-size: 20px; } p.ci_profile_name { font-size: 1.5em; } .ci_profile_title { font-style: italic; line-height: 1.3em } .ci_profile_company { font-size: 1em; } p.ci_profile_award { font-size: .8em; text-align: center; color: #55555599; font-weight: 700 } .ci_profile_social { width: auto; } .ci_profile_social i { padding-right: 12px; font-size: 20px } .ci_profile_social a:last-of-type i { padding-right: 0px; } #ci_footer-social { font-size: 1.5em; padding-top: 0px; width: 100%; text-align: right; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_logo { margin-top: 25px } .ci_social p { text-align: center !important; } #ci_footer-social { text-align: center } } @media (min-width:540px) { .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .rowEqual_768>[class*='col'] { -ms-flex: 1; /* IE 10 */ flex: inherit; width: calc((100%/4) - 2px)/*Adjust % for the number per row, will override the bootstrap - Also needed for Safari*/ ; } } /* // */ <div class="row people people4"><h4 class="text-align-center">Speakers</h4><div class="row people people4"><div class="row rowEqual_768"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2020-11/Nancy-Myers.jpg" alt="Nancy Myers" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Nancy Myers</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Vice President of Leadership and System Innovation</p><p class="ci_profile_company">���������� Association</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Tucker-Christiansen-300x300.jpg" alt="Tucker Christiansen" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Tucker Christiansen</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director of Product Management</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Intermountain Health</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Deryk-Van-Brunt-300x300.jpg" alt="Deryk Van Brunt" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Deryk Van Brunt</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Clinical Professor, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and Founder and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">CredibleMind</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Debbie-Zuerner-300x300.jpg" alt="Debbie Zuerner" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Debbie Zuerner</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director of Community Engagement</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Owensboro Health</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="col-sm-1"> </div></div><div class="row" id=""><div class="col-md-10 col-md-offset-1"><div class="col-md-12"><h4>AHA Affinity Forum is brought to our members in collaboration with CredibleMind</h4></div><div class="col-md-12"><p>CredibleMind provides a localized, wellness-oriented digital platform that enables employers, insurers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to support consumer-centric engagement. Customizable with organizational and local resources, CredibleMind provides a complete population-based mental health ecosystem, complete with analytics reporting on service needs, use, and outcomes.</p></div> <a href="xxxxxxxxxxxxx"> <img alt="CENTEGIX Logo" src="/sites/default/files/2024-10/CENTEGIX_LOGO_web-Horizontal-Recovered.png"> </a> </div> --></div></div> Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:40:05 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /education-events/leveraging-digital-health-scalable-mental-health-solutions <div class="raw-html-embed"> #block-mainpagecontent article > div > div > div.col-md-8{ width: 100%; } .panel-body { display: flex; flex-flow: row; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px 10px; } .panel-body>div{ /*border:solid 1px red;*/ margin-bottom:10px } .page-header {order: 1; flex-basis:100%} .event-format {order: 2; flex-grow: 1} .event-dates {order: 3; flex-grow: 1;} .event-cost {order: 4; flex-grow: 1; flex-basis: 25%} .event-type {order: 5; flex-basis: 33%} .event-host {order: 8; flex-grow: 1;} .event-contact-info {order: 6; flex-grow: 2; flex-basis: 33%} .event-description {order: 3; flex-grow: 1} .event-sponsors {order: 9; flex-grow: 1;} .event-registration-link {order: 9;margin: auto 15%;} .page-header{ margin: 0px 0 10px; } h1{ margin:0px } h3{ margin:0px } h4{ color:#003087; font-size:27px; } </div><div class="row"> -- Form --><div class="col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 center_body"><h4>AHA Affinity Forum Session Two</h4><p>In session two of the <a href="/affinity-forum/population-behavioral-health" title="View the whole series">AHA Affinity Forum</a>, participants will learn how hospitals are harnessing digital health to expand access to mental health care. This fireside chat will feature live technology demonstrations and peer discussions. Hear how AI, data-driven tools and digital platforms support early intervention and community engagement, and promote positive outcomes, while addressing barriers and cost drivers. Discover strategies for making the case to scale up community-based mental health programming.</p><p>This session will last 60 minutes to allow time for the panel discussion and interaction with attendees. Submit your questions ahead of time to contribute to the discussion and address issues that are unique to your organization or role.</p><p><strong>Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025: </strong><br><strong>12:00 p.m. CT – 1:00 p.m. CT</strong><br> </p><p> </p></div><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6"><div class="TargetLocationAA"> Moved Form Here...... </p> --> //const targetSelectorXX = '#CRAZYtestID'; // Replace with your element's ID selector //const targetSelectorXX = ('.CRAZYtestClass'); // Replace with your element's Class selector const targetSelectorXX = ('.aha-event-reg-container'); const observer = new MutationObserver((mutationsList, observer) => { const element = document.querySelector(targetSelectorXX); if (element) { console.log('Element is now on the page:', element); // Run your code here //alert("This is an alert message!"); // Select the element with the class name const elementToMoveB = document.querySelector('.aha-event-reg-container'); // Select the target section where the element will be moved const targetSectionB = document.querySelector('.TargetLocationAA'); // Move the element by appending it to the target section if (elementToMoveB && targetSectionB) { targetSectionB.appendChild(elementToMoveB); } else { console.error('Element or target section not found!'); } //END your code here observer.disconnect(); // Stop observing once the element is found } }); observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true }); </div> Panel Discussion Replay </h4> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> </div> <a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary ext" href="/system/files/media/file/2024/12/aha-affinity-forum_CENTEGIX_Session1_layered-approach.pdf" target="_blank" title="View the presentation/deck from the panel discussion" rel="noopener nofollow">Presentation / Deck</a> --></div> <div> <aside> <h3> Reserve Your Spot </h3> <div class="raw-html-embed">   MktoForms2.loadForm("//sponsors.aha.org", "710-ZLL-651", 4218); MktoForms2.whenReady(function(form) { if(form.getId() == 4218) { form.onSuccess(function(values, followUpUrl) { form.getFormElem().hide(); document.getElementById("successAndErrorMessages").innerHTML = ` <p> Thank you for your RSVP. Check your email for a save-the-date message to add to your calendar.<\/p>`; return false; }); }; }); <div id="successAndErrorMessages">   </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> --></div><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-1"> </div><div class="col-sm-10"> /* people */ .people { margin-top: 25px; } .people img:nth-child(1) { border-radius: 200px; -moz-border-radius: 200px; -webkit-border-radius: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px } .people img:nth-child(1):hover { opacity: .7 } @media (max-width:991px) { .people { margin: auto; } .people p { text-align: center } } .ci_profile { margin-bottom: 30px; display: block; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_profile { text-align: center } } .ci_profile p { margin: 0 0 7px 0 } .ci_profile_name { font-weight: 700; font-size: 20px; } p.ci_profile_name { font-size: 1.5em; } .ci_profile_title { font-style: italic; line-height: 1.3em } .ci_profile_company { font-size: 1em; } p.ci_profile_award { font-size: .8em; text-align: center; color: #55555599; font-weight: 700 } .ci_profile_social { width: auto; } .ci_profile_social i { padding-right: 12px; font-size: 20px } .ci_profile_social a:last-of-type i { padding-right: 0px; } #ci_footer-social { font-size: 1.5em; padding-top: 0px; width: 100%; text-align: right; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_logo { margin-top: 25px } .ci_social p { text-align: center !important; } #ci_footer-social { text-align: center } } @media (min-width:540px) { .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .rowEqual_768>[class*='col'] { -ms-flex: 1; /* IE 10 */ flex: inherit; width: calc((100%/4) - 2px)/*Adjust % for the number per row, will override the bootstrap - Also needed for Safari*/ ; } } /* // */ <div class="row people people4"><h4 class="text-align-center">Speakers</h4><div class="row people people4"><div class="row rowEqual_768"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2020-11/Nancy-Myers.jpg" alt="Nancy Myers" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Nancy Myers</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Vice President of Leadership and System Innovation</p><p class="ci_profile_company">���������� Association</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Tucker-Christiansen-300x300.jpg" alt="Tucker Christiansen" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Tucker Christiansen</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director of Product Management</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Intermountain Health</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Deryk-Van-Brunt-300x300.jpg" alt="Deryk Van Brunt" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Deryk Van Brunt</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Clinical Professor, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and Founder and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">CredibleMind</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Debbie-Zuerner-300x300.jpg" alt="Debbie Zuerner" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Debbie Zuerner</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director of Community Engagement</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Owensboro Health</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="col-sm-1"> </div></div><div class="row" id=""><div class="col-md-10 col-md-offset-1"><div class="col-md-12"><h4>AHA Affinity Forum is brought to our members in collaboration with CredibleMind</h4></div><div class="col-md-12"><p>CredibleMind provides a localized, wellness-oriented digital platform that enables employers, insurers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to support consumer-centric engagement. Customizable with organizational and local resources, CredibleMind provides a complete population-based mental health ecosystem, complete with analytics reporting on service needs, use, and outcomes.</p></div> <a href="xxxxxxxxxxxxx"> <img alt="CENTEGIX Logo" src="/sites/default/files/2024-10/CENTEGIX_LOGO_web-Horizontal-Recovered.png"> </a> </div> --></div></div> Wed, 06 Aug 2025 13:27:19 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /education-events/community-health-strategies-advance-behavioral-health <div class="raw-html-embed"> #block-mainpagecontent article > div > div > div.col-md-8{ width: 100%; } .panel-body { display: flex; flex-flow: row; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 10px 10px; } .panel-body>div{ /*border:solid 1px red;*/ margin-bottom:10px } .page-header {order: 1; flex-basis:100%} .event-format {order: 2; flex-grow: 1} .event-dates {order: 3; flex-grow: 1;} .event-cost {order: 4; flex-grow: 1; flex-basis: 25%} .event-type {order: 5; flex-basis: 33%} .event-host {order: 8; flex-grow: 1;} .event-contact-info {order: 6; flex-grow: 2; flex-basis: 33%} .event-description {order: 3; flex-grow: 1} .event-sponsors {order: 9; flex-grow: 1;} .event-registration-link {order: 9;margin: auto 15%;} .page-header{ margin: 0px 0 10px; } h1{ margin:0px } h3{ margin:0px } h4{ color:#003087; font-size:27px; } </div><div class="row"> -- Form --><div class="col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12 center_body"><h4>AHA Affinity Forum Session One</h4><p>In session one of the <a href="/affinity-forum/population-behavioral-health" title="View the whole series">AHA Affinity Forum</a>, participants will explore how hospitals are advancing behavioral health through community-focused strategies that go beyond traditional care and address the whole person. Learn how digital tools and cross-sector partnerships are reshaping population-based behavioral health, with insights into early intervention, triage and scalable community interventions. Discover how power dynamics influence partnerships and what’s next in the evolution of behavioral health at the community level.</p><p>This session will last 60 minutes to allow time for the panel discussion and interaction with attendees. Submit your questions ahead of time to contribute to the discussion and address issues that are unique to your organization or role.</p><p><strong>Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025: </strong><br><strong>12:00 p.m. CT – 1:00 p.m. CT</strong><br> </p><p> </p></div><div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-6"><div class="TargetLocationAA"> Moved Form Here...... </p> --> //const targetSelectorXX = '#CRAZYtestID'; // Replace with your element's ID selector //const targetSelectorXX = ('.CRAZYtestClass'); // Replace with your element's Class selector const targetSelectorXX = ('.aha-event-reg-container'); const observer = new MutationObserver((mutationsList, observer) => { const element = document.querySelector(targetSelectorXX); if (element) { console.log('Element is now on the page:', element); // Run your code here //alert("This is an alert message!"); // Select the element with the class name const elementToMoveB = document.querySelector('.aha-event-reg-container'); // Select the target section where the element will be moved const targetSectionB = document.querySelector('.TargetLocationAA'); // Move the element by appending it to the target section if (elementToMoveB && targetSectionB) { targetSectionB.appendChild(elementToMoveB); } else { console.error('Element or target section not found!'); } //END your code here observer.disconnect(); // Stop observing once the element is found } }); observer.observe(document.body, { childList: true, subtree: true }); </div> Panel Discussion Replay </h4> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> </div> <a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary ext" href="/system/files/media/file/2024/12/aha-affinity-forum_CENTEGIX_Session1_layered-approach.pdf" target="_blank" title="View the presentation/deck from the panel discussion" rel="noopener nofollow">Presentation / Deck</a> --></div> <div> <aside> <h3> Reserve Your Spot </h3> <div class="raw-html-embed">   MktoForms2.loadForm("//sponsors.aha.org", "710-ZLL-651", 4218); MktoForms2.whenReady(function(form) { if(form.getId() == 4218) { form.onSuccess(function(values, followUpUrl) { form.getFormElem().hide(); document.getElementById("successAndErrorMessages").innerHTML = ` <p> Thank you for your RSVP. Check your email for a save-the-date message to add to your calendar.<\/p>`; return false; }); }; }); <div id="successAndErrorMessages">   </div> </div> </aside> </div> </div> --></div><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-1"> </div><div class="col-sm-10"> /* people */ .people { margin-top: 25px; } .people img:nth-child(1) { border-radius: 200px; -moz-border-radius: 200px; -webkit-border-radius: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px } .people img:nth-child(1):hover { opacity: .7 } @media (max-width:991px) { .people { margin: auto; } .people p { text-align: center } } .ci_profile { margin-bottom: 30px; display: block; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_profile { text-align: center } } .ci_profile p { margin: 0 0 7px 0 } .ci_profile_name { font-weight: 700; font-size: 20px; } p.ci_profile_name { font-size: 1.5em; } .ci_profile_title { font-style: italic; line-height: 1.3em } .ci_profile_company { font-size: 1em; } p.ci_profile_award { font-size: .8em; text-align: center; color: #55555599; font-weight: 700 } .ci_profile_social { width: auto; } .ci_profile_social i { padding-right: 12px; font-size: 20px } .ci_profile_social a:last-of-type i { padding-right: 0px; } #ci_footer-social { font-size: 1.5em; padding-top: 0px; width: 100%; text-align: right; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_logo { margin-top: 25px } .ci_social p { text-align: center !important; } #ci_footer-social { text-align: center } } @media (min-width:540px) { .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .rowEqual_768>[class*='col'] { -ms-flex: 1; /* IE 10 */ flex: inherit; width: calc((100%/4) - 2px)/*Adjust % for the number per row, will override the bootstrap - Also needed for Safari*/ ; } } /* // */ <div class="row people people4"><h4 class="text-align-center">Speakers</h4><div class="row people people4"><div class="row rowEqual_768"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2020-11/Nancy-Myers.jpg" alt="Nancy Myers" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Nancy Myers</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Vice President of Leadership and System Innovation</p><p class="ci_profile_company">���������� Association</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Tucker-Christiansen-300x300.jpg" alt="Tucker Christiansen" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Tucker Christiansen</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director of Product Management</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Intermountain Health</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Deryk-Van-Brunt-300x300.jpg" alt="Deryk Van Brunt" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Deryk Van Brunt</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Clinical Professor, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and Founder and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">CredibleMind</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Debbie-Zuerner-300x300.jpg" alt="Debbie Zuerner" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Debbie Zuerner</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director of Community Engagement</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Owensboro Health</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="col-sm-1"> </div></div><div class="row" id=""><div class="col-md-10 col-md-offset-1"><div class="col-md-12"><h4>AHA Affinity Forum is brought to our members in collaboration with CredibleMind</h4></div><div class="col-md-12"><p>CredibleMind provides a localized, wellness-oriented digital platform that enables employers, insurers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to support consumer-centric engagement. Customizable with organizational and local resources, CredibleMind provides a complete population-based mental health ecosystem, complete with analytics reporting on service needs, use, and outcomes.</p></div> <a href="xxxxxxxxxxxxx"> <img alt="CENTEGIX Logo" src="/sites/default/files/2024-10/CENTEGIX_LOGO_web-Horizontal-Recovered.png"> </a> </div> --></div></div> Wed, 06 Aug 2025 12:47:37 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /case-studies/2025-08-01-program-helps-create-positive-school-climate-and-identify-students-risk-social-emotional-issues <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>“About five or six years ago, we began working with the County Department of Education on the PBIS model – Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports,” says Barry Ross, R.N, regional director of community health investment, Southern California Region, Orange County/High Desert, Providence St. Joseph Health.</p><p>This program helps schools create a positive school climate and identify students who were at risk for social-emotional issues.</p><p>“School districts in our area were implementing this program inconsistently, so we worked with the county to ensure that it was implemented more faithfully and see that all of our Title I schools were implementing it at the highest level,” says Ross.</p><p>As a result of this effort, the Fullerton School District determined that there was a need for more direct service for students who were identified as at-risk. The hospital agreed to support the effort with a multicomponent program. The program includes universal behavior/social-emotional screening for all students in the district to identify those in need of behavioral health services; a partnership with California State University Fullerton’s social work program to provide counseling and support services (preventive, individual or group services) at targeted schools; and a part-time liaison to connect families to children’s mental health Medi-Cal benefit providers.</p><p>To reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health, St. Jude implemented the Each Mind Matters/Promise to Talk campaign in North Orange County in 2018. The program was launched three years ago at Mission Hospital, another Providence St. Joseph Health organization, and its success there led to other facilities adopting the initiative.</p><p>The Each Mind Matters campaign targets people in low-income neighborhoods with discussions about mental health and a call to action called Promise to Talk.</p><p>“We hold outreach at community events, parks and schools,” Ross explains. “We also do pop-ups, where we go into a neighborhood, set up a table, and just talk to people. We talk about how they perceive our hospital as a place of support, whether anyone has talked to them about mental health issues, and whether they have been able to get help if they’ve needed mental health services. We can also use these opportunities to direct them to services if they or a family member needs them.”</p><p>During these conversations, St. Jude-contracted staff encourage community members to sign a “Promise to Talk.” This symbolizes a commitment to reducing stigma by talking openly to friends and family about mental health, listening to friends or family members expressing their state of mental health, and sharing one’s story with others to encourage open dialogue about mental health.</p><p><a href="/system/files/media/file/2019/05/aha-cs-st-jude-0519.pdf">Read the full case study</a> to learn more.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"> <h4> <u>Behavioral Health Strategic Priorities</u> </h4> <h4> <a href="/behavioral-health-community-partnerships">Community Partnerships</a> </h4> <h4> <a href="/behavioral-health-physical-behavioral-health-integration-resources">Integration</a> </h4> <h4> <a href="/stigma">Stigma</a> </h4> <h4> <a href="/suicideprevention">Suicide Prevention</a> </h4> <hr> <h4> <a href="/advocacy/access-and-health-coverage/access-behavioral-health">More Behavioral Health Resources ></a> </h4> </div>--><p> </p></div></div></div> Fri, 01 Aug 2025 13:21:20 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /affinity-forum/population-behavioral-health <div class="raw-html-embed"> </div><div> /* Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar */ .Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar { position: relative; 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font-size: 2.15em; margin: 0 0 15px 0; } </div><div><header class="Banner_Title_Overlay_Bar"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/affinity-forum-2025-bh-no-type-1170x250.jpg" alt="Banner Image" width="1170" height="250"><div><h1>Advancing Population-Based Behavioral Health Inside and Outside the Hospital Walls | AHA Affinity Forum</h1></div></header></div> @media (min-width:768px) { .sp_CTA1b_holder { top: -15px; } } @media (max-width:767px) { .sp_CTA1b_holder { top: -50px; margin: 0px 50px; } } .sp_CTA1b_holder { background-color: #fff; padding: 15px 15px 0; position: relative; overflow: auto; border: solid 2px #307FE2; text-align: center; } .sp_CTA1b h3 { color: #002855; font-size: 1.4em; margin: 0px; } .sp_CTA1b span { display: block; margin-top: 10px } .sp_CTA1b span a { color: #d50032; } .sp_CTA1b span a:hover { color: #651d32; } <div class="row sp_CTA1b"><div class="col-sm-8 col-sm-offset-2 sp_CTA1b_holder"><h3>AHA Affinity Forum is brought to our members in collaboration with CredibleMind</h3><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Logo-Credible-Mind-834x313.jpg" alt="CredibleMind logo" width="834" height="313"></div></div><div class="raw-html-embed"> /* CntMenuSub */ .CntMenuSub { margin: 20px 0px; 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line-height: 1.2em; font-size: 30px; margin: 10px 0 25px 0; font-weight: 700; font-size: 2.15em; } .sp_Lead_Paragragh p { font-size: 16px } <div class="row sp_Lead_Paragragh"><div class="col-sm-1"> </div><div class="col-sm-10"><h2>Interactive Virtual Panel Discussion with Health Care and Population Behavioral Health Leaders</h2><p>Join health care leaders from across the country for a powerful, multi-session forum focused on advancing community-based behavioral health. This event will explore how hospitals and health systems can leverage digital innovation, cross-sector partnerships and population health strategies to improve health outcomes and financial performance.</p><p>Discussions will include insights and stories from:</p><ul><li>Tucker Christiansen — Director of Product Management, Intermountain Health</li><li>Debbie Zuerner — Director of Community Engagement, Owensboro Health</li><li>Deryk Van Brunt — Clinical Professor, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and Founder and CEO, CredibleMind</li></ul><div class="row spacer rowEqual-768-2"> .BlockViewCalendar3 { margin: 25px auto; padding-bottom: 15px } /* Equal */ @media (min-width:992px) { .resource-block .resource-view .views-row { /* width: calc((100%/3) - 20px); float:left; */ margin: 10px; } .rowEqual-768 .resource-view, .rowEqual-768-2 .resource-view { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .rowEqual-768-2 .resource-view>[class*='art'] { -ms-flex: 1; 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Learn how digital tools and cross-sector partnerships are reshaping population-based behavioral health, with insights into early intervention, triage and scalable community interventions. Discover how power dynamics influence partnerships and what’s next in the evolution of behavioral health at the community level.</p></div><div class="event-registration-link"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/education-events/community-health-strategies-advance-behavioral-health" title="Register for Webinar: Community Health Strategies to Advance Behavioral Health"><span class="field-content">Reserve Your Spot →</span></a></div></div><div class="article views-row"> <div class="field-content"> <article> <div class="field_media_image"> <img alt="xxxxxx" height="400" src="xxxxx" width="1200"> </div> </article> </div> </div> --><div class="views-field views-field-field-start-date-time"><div class="field-content">Oct.</div></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-start-date-time-1"><div class="field-content">14</div></div><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h3><a href="/education-events/leveraging-digital-health-scalable-mental-health-solutions" title="Register for Webinar: Leveraging Digital Health for Scalable Mental Health Solutions" hreflang="en"><span class="field-content">Leveraging Digital Health for Scalable Mental Health Solutions</span></a></h3></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-start-date-time-2"><div class="field-content"><p><span>Event Begins:</span> Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. CT</p><p><em><span>Interactive Virtual Panel</span></em></p></div></div> <div class="field-content"> Interactive Virtual Panel xxxxxxx </div> </div> --><div><p>Learn how hospitals are harnessing digital health to expand access to mental health care in this engaging fireside chat featuring live technology demonstrations and peer discussions. Hear how AI, data-driven tools and digital platforms support early intervention and community engagement, and promote positive outcomes, while addressing barriers and cost drivers. Discover strategies for making the case to scale up community-based mental health programming.</p></div><div class="event-registration-link"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/education-events/leveraging-digital-health-scalable-mental-health-solutions" title="Register for Webinar: Leveraging Digital Health for Scalable Mental Health Solutions"><span class="field-content">Reserve Your Spot →</span></a></div></div><div class="article views-row"> <div class="field-content"> <article> <div class="field_media_image"> <img alt="xxxxxx" height="400" src="xxxxx" width="1200"> </div> </article> </div> </div> --><div class="views-field views-field-field-start-date-time"><div class="field-content">Nov.</div></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-start-date-time-1"><div class="field-content">6</div></div><div class="views-field views-field-title"><h3><a href="/education-events/measuring-success-and-scaling-impact" title="Register for Webinar: Measuring Success and Scaling Impact" hreflang="en"><span class="field-content">Measuring Success and Scaling Impact</span></a></h3></div><div class="views-field views-field-field-start-date-time-2"><div class="field-content"><p><span>Event Begins:</span> Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. CT</p><p><em><span>Interactive Virtual Panel</span></em></p></div></div> <div class="field-content"> Interactive Virtual Panel xxxxxxx </div> </div> --><div><p>Discover how hospitals can effectively measure and scale their mental health initiatives in this interactive session featuring real-world case studies and implementation strategies. Learn to define key performance indicators (KPIs), apply analytics to refine interventions and identify scalable models that drive lasting impact on quality indicators, health outcomes and on budgets. Participants will be guided in setting meaningful metrics and reporting outcomes to support program growth.</p></div><div class="event-registration-link"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/education-events/measuring-success-and-scaling-impact" title="Register for Webinar: Measuring Success and Scaling Impact"><span class="field-content">Reserve Your Spot </span></a></div></div></div></div></section></div></div></div><div class="col-sm-1"> </div></div><div class="row"><div class="col-sm-1"> </div><div class="col-sm-10"> /* people */ .people { margin-top: 50px; } .people img:nth-child(1) { border-radius: 200px; -moz-border-radius: 200px; -webkit-border-radius: 200px; margin-bottom: 10px } .people img:nth-child(1):hover { opacity: .7 } @media (max-width:991px) { .people { margin: auto; } .people p { text-align: center } } .ci_profile { margin-bottom: 30px; display: block; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_profile { text-align: center } } .ci_profile p { margin: 0 0 7px 0 } .ci_profile_name { font-weight: 700; font-size: 20px; } p.ci_profile_name { font-size: 1.5em; } .ci_profile_title { font-style: italic; line-height: 1.3em } .ci_profile_company { font-size: 1em; } p.ci_profile_award { font-size: .8em; text-align: center; color: #55555599; font-weight: 700 } .ci_profile_social { width: auto; } .ci_profile_social i { padding-right: 25px; font-size: 20px } .ci_profile_social a:last-of-type i { padding-right: 0px; } #ci_footer-social { font-size: 1.5em; padding-top: 0px; width: 100%; text-align: right; } @media (max-width:991px) { .ci_logo { margin-top: 25px } .ci_social p { text-align: center !important; } #ci_footer-social { text-align: center } } @media (min-width:540px) { .rowEqual_768 { display: -webkit-box; display: -webkit-flex; display: -ms-flexbox; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; } .rowEqual_768>[class*='col'] { -ms-flex: 1; /* IE 10 */ flex: inherit; width: calc((100%/4) - 2px)/*Adjust % for the number per row, will override the bootstrap - Also needed for Safari*/ ; } } /* // */ <div class="row people people4"><h2 class="text-align-center">Virtual Panelists</h2><div class="row rowEqual_768"><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2020-11/Nancy-Myers.jpg" alt="Nancy Myers" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Nancy Myers</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Vice President of Leadership and System Innovation</p><p class="ci_profile_company">���������� Association</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Tucker-Christiansen-300x300.jpg" alt="Tucker Christiansen" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Tucker Christiansen</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director of Product Management</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Intermountain Health</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Deryk-Van-Brunt-300x300.jpg" alt="Deryk Van Brunt" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Deryk Van Brunt</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Clinical Professor, UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and Founder and CEO</p><p class="ci_profile_company">CredibleMind</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div><div class="col-md-4 col-sm-6 ci_profile"><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-08/AF-Behavioral-Health-Debbie-Zuerner-300x300.jpg" alt="Debbie Zuerner" width="300" height="300"><p class="ci_profile_name">Debbie Zuerner</p><p class="ci_profile_title">Director of Community Engagement</p><p class="ci_profile_company">Owensboro Health</p><p class="ci_profile_award"> </p><div class="ci_profile_social"> </div></div></div></div></div><div class="col-sm-1"> </div></div><div class="row" id=""><div class="col-md-10 col-md-offset-1"><div class="col-md-12"><h2>AHA Affinity Forum is brought to our members in collaboration with CredibleMind</h2></div><div class="col-md-8"><p>CredibleMind provides a localized, wellness-oriented digital platform that enables employers, insurers, healthcare providers, and community organizations to support consumer-centric engagement. Customizable with organizational and local resources, CredibleMind provides a complete population-based mental health ecosystem, complete with analytics reporting on service needs, use, and outcomes.</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="https://crediblemind.com/" title="Visit CredibleMind" target="_blank"><img src="/sites/default/files/2024-04/Logo-Credible-Mind-834x313.jpg" alt="CredibleMind logo" width="100%" height="100%"></a><p><a href="https://crediblemind.com/" title="Visit CredibleMind" target="_blank"></a></p></div><p><a href="https://crediblemind.com/" title="Visit CredibleMind" target="_blank"></a></p></div><p><a href="https://crediblemind.com/" title="Visit CredibleMind" target="_blank"></a></p></div> Thu, 31 Jul 2025 15:05:21 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /news/headline/2025-07-28-samhsa-releases-results-annual-survey-drug-use-and-mental-health <p>The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration July 28 released its latest <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20250728/samhsa-releases-annual-national-survey-on-drug-use-and-health">national survey</a> on drug use and mental health. Among the findings, the percentage of adolescents aged 12 to 17 who had serious thoughts of suicide declined from 12.9% in 2021 to 10.1% in 2024. It also found a decline in adolescents who experienced a major depressive episode, dropping from 20.8% in 2021 to 15.4% in 2024. The survey also found that among the 61.5 million adults aged 18 or older in 2024 with any mental illness, 52.1% (32 million) received any mental health treatment in the past year. Among 14.6 million adults with serious mental illness in the past year, 70.8% (10.3 million) received mental health treatment. Due to changes to the survey questions and approach, not all estimates in the 2024 survey are comparable with 2023 and 2022 estimates, <a href="https://www.samhsa.gov/data/data-we-collect/nsduh-national-survey-drug-use-and-health/national-releases/2024">SAMHSA notes</a>. </p> Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:36:57 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /lettercomment/2025-07-22-aha-letter-support-medicare-mental-health-inpatient-equity-act <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>July 22, 2025</p><div class="row"><div class="col-md-6"><p>The Honorable Paul Tonko<br>U.S. House of Representatives<br>2269 Rayburn House Office Building<br>Washington, DC 20515</p><p>The Honorable Lloyd Doggett<br>U.S. House of Representatives<br>2307 Rayburn House Office Building<br>Washington, DC 20515</p></div><div class="col-md-6"><p>The Honorable Bill Huizenga<br>U.S. House of Representatives<br>2232 Rayburn House Office Building<<br>Washington, DC 20515</p><p>The Honorable Brian Fitzpatrick<br>U.S. House of Representatives<br>271 Cannon House Office Building<br>Washington, DC 20515</p></div></div><p>Dear Representatives Tonko, Huizenga, Doggett and Fitzpatrick:</p><p>On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, including more than 270,000 affiliated physicians, 2 million nurses and other caregivers — and the 43,000 health care leaders who belong to our professional membership groups — the ���������� Association (AHA) is pleased to support your legislation, the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act.</p><p>This bill would eliminate the 190-day lifetime limit on inpatient psychiatric hospital services for Medicare patients. As we work to further integrate physical and behavioral health to better address the nation’s behavioral health needs, one major obstacle to parity remains in the Medicare program — the 190-day lifetime limit on coverage for certain inpatient psychiatric treatment. As the nation’s population ages and an increasing number of seniors and people with disabilities seek inpatient care to address their behavioral health needs, now is the time to repeal this discriminatory policy and ensure that Medicare beneficiaries can receive necessary inpatient psychiatric care.</p><p>The AHA believes physical and mental health care are inextricably linked, and everyone deserves access to high-quality behavioral health care. We know that as a country we need to prioritize resources that support behavioral health needs. These investments will not only help to stymie the wave of unmet demand for behavioral health services but also improve America’s overall health.</p><p>We are grateful for your leadership on this issue and stand ready to work with you to enact this important legislation.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>/s/</p><p>Lisa Kidder Hrobsky<br>Senior Vice President, Advocacy and Political Affairs</p></div><div class="col-md-4"><div class="external-link spacer"><a class="btn btn-wide btn-primary" href="/system/files/media/file/2025/07/AHA-Letter-in-Support-of-the-Medicare-Mental-Health-Inpatient-Equity-Act.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the AHA Letter in Support of the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act PDF.">Download the Letter PDF</a></div><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/07/AHA-Letter-in-Support-of-the-Medicare-Mental-Health-Inpatient-Equity-Act.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the AHA Letter in Support of the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Page-1-AHA-Letter-in-Support-of-the-Medicare-Mental-Health-Inpatient-Equity-Act.png" data-entity-uuid="467c1006-fea6-4c02-aa52-afd3910d4b3d" data-entity-type="file" alt="AHA Letter in Support of the Medicare Mental Health Inpatient Equity Act page 1." width="689" height="900"></a></div></div></div> Tue, 22 Jul 2025 13:10:06 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery /advisory/2025-07-15-cms-issues-cy-2026-physician-fee-schedule-proposed-rule <div class="container"><div class="row"><div class="col-md-8"><p>The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) July 14 issued a <a href="https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-13271.pdf">proposed rule</a> that would update physician fee schedule (PFS) payments for calendar year (CY) 2026. The rule also includes proposals related to the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) and the Quality Payment Program (QPP), both of which were created by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015. It also would create a new mandatory payment model focused on specialists’ care for beneficiaries with heart failure and low back pain. </p><p> CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule through Sept. 12.</p><div class="panel module-typeC"><div class="panel-heading"><p><strong>KEY HIGHLIGHTS</strong></p><p>CMS’ proposed policies would:</p><ul><li>Implement two separate conversion factors: one for alternative payment model (APM) qualifying participants (QPs) and one for physicians and practitioners who are not QPs.<ul><li>The APM QP conversion factor would increase by 3.83% in CY 2026 as compared to CY 2025.</li><li>The non-QP conversion factor would increase by 3.62% in CY 2026 as compared to CY 2025.</li></ul></li><li>Make an efficiency adjustment of -2.5% to certain work relative value units (RVUs).</li><li>Modify the practice expense (PE) methodology to decrease facility PE RVUs and increase non-facility PE RVUs.</li><li>Extend some, but not all, telehealth waivers, either permanently or through 2026.</li><li>Create a new claims-based methodology to remove units of drugs purchased under the 340B program for the purposes of calculating Medicare drug inflation rebates. The agency is also proposing to create a 340B claims data repository allowing voluntary data submission by 340B providers to potentially use for the same purpose.</li><li>Create a new mandatory payment model, the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM), focused on specialists who care for beneficiaries with heart failure and low back pain, to begin Jan. 1, 2027, and run for five years.</li><li>Make several updates to the Medicare Share Savings Programs policies on performance and beneficiary assignment methodology.</li><li>Establish a MIPS performance threshold of 75 points for the CY 2026 performance period through the CY 2028 performance period, as well as adopt six new MIPS Value Pathways and make modifications to performance categories under the Quality Payment Program.</li></ul></div></div><h2>AHA TAKE</h2><p>The AHA is pleased that CMS, as directed by Congress, is proposing a positive payment update for physicians, which will be the first in several years. However, we will be closely evaluating the proposed efficiency adjustment and changes to PE RVUs, which both redistribute payments and may inappropriately disadvantage certain providers, including physicians who are largely hospital-based. </p><p>We also thank CMS for its proposal to extend or make permanent certain telehealth flexibilities, such as permanently removing frequency limitations for subsequent inpatient visits, nursing facility visits and critical care consultations. However, we were disappointed the agency did not propose extending a waiver that allows providers to report practice addresses instead of home addresses when they perform telehealth services from their home. </p><p>We appreciate the recognition of the complexity of identifying Medicare Part D drug units purchased under the 340B drug pricing program. As we review the agency’s proposals in more detail, we caution against any approach that would add unnecessary burden on 340B hospitals or would allow sensitive 340B data to be used outside the scope of the Medicare drug inflation rebate program to diminish the value of the program to 340B hospitals and their patients.</p><p>Finally, while we support moving towards more coordinated and accountable care through APMs, we are concerned about CMS’ proposal to create another mandatory model, as many physicians may not be in a financial position to support the investments necessary to transition to mandatory models.</p><p>Highlights of the PFS rule follow.</p><h2>CY 2026 PROPOSED PAYMENT UPDATE</h2><p>As required by law, beginning in CY 2026, CMS proposes implementing two separate conversion factors: one for APM QPs and one for physicians and practitioners who are not QPs. The rule would increase the APM QP conversion factor by 3.83% in CY 2026 as compared to CY 2025. It would increase the non-QP conversion factor by 3.62% in CY 2026 as compared to CY 2025. These updates include statutory updates of 0.75% and 0.25% for the APM QP and non-QP factors, respectively, another statutory update of 2.5% as required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and an increase of 0.55% that CMS states is necessary to account for proposed changes in work RVUs (described below).</p><h3>Efficiency Adjustment</h3><p>CMS proposes an efficiency adjustment to the work RVUs. It states that its proposal is based on an assumption that both the provider’s time directly providing the service to a patient as well as their work intensity would decrease as they develop expertise in performing the service. The agency expects non-time-based codes, such as codes describing procedures, radiology services and diagnostic tests, to become more efficient as they become more common, professionals gain more experience, technology is improved and other operational improvements (including but not limited to enhancements in procedural workflows) are implemented.</p><p>To calculate the efficiency adjustment, CMS proposes using the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) productivity adjustment. This adjustment reflects the most recent historical estimate of the 10-year moving average growth of private nonfarm business total factor productivity, as calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is substantively similar to the productivity adjustment used in other Medicare payment systems, such as the inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) and outpatient PPS.</p><p>For CY 2026, CMS would apply the efficiency adjustment using a look-back period of five years. This methodology yields a proposed efficiency adjustment of -2.5%, which will be updated in the final rule. The agency states that, generally, specialties that bill more often for timed codes (such as family practice, clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, geriatrics and psychiatry) would see an increase in RVUs, while specialties that bill more often for procedures, diagnostic imaging and radiology services (such as radiation oncology, radiology, and some surgical specialties) would see a decrease in RVUs. That said, CMS estimates that almost all specialties would experience no more than 1% increase or decrease in RVUs as a result of this proposed policy, although the effect on individual services may be greater. It would be implemented in a budget neutral manner overall, however, and there would be a net increase to the conversion factor because of its implementation. </p><p><u></u></p><h2>Practice Expense Methodology</h2><p>CMS states that over the past two decades or so, there has been a steady decline in the percentage of physicians working in private practice, with a corresponding rise in physician employment by hospitals, as well as growth in the percentage of physicians who practice exclusively, or almost exclusively, in the facility setting. When the PFS was established, the methodology for allocating indirect PE was based in part on an assumption that the physician maintained an office-based practice while also practicing in a facility setting. However, CMS is concerned that this methodology may now overstate the indirect costs incurred by facility-based physicians.</p><p>Beginning in CY 2026, for each service valued in the facility setting under the PFS, CMS proposes to reduce the portion of the facility PE RVUs allocated based on work RVUs to half the amount allocated to non-facility (office-based) PE RVUs. The agency states that specialties that practice primarily in the facility setting would see a decrease in PE RVUs as a result of this redistribution. Specialties that perform services primarily in the non-facility (office-based) setting would see an increase in PE RVUs.</p><h2>Use of Outpatient PPS Data for PFS Rate-setting</h2><p><u> </u></p><p>For several types of PFS services, CMS proposes deviating from its historic use of American Medical Association survey data and instead using auditable, routinely updated hospital data. Specifically, for CY 2026, the agency proposes to:</p><ul><li>Use the relationship between outpatient PPS ambulatory payment classification payment rates to establish PE RVUs for radiation oncology treatment delivery and superficial radiation treatment services.</li><li>Use outpatient PPS cost data to establish the value for the PE portion of remote physiologic monitoring because it believes that these cost data are more accurate than the PE inputs currently used.</li><li>Use hospital outpatient utilization patterns to set payment rates for three categories of skin substitutes.</li></ul><h2>TELEHEALTH SERVICES</h2><p><strong>Medicare Telehealth Services List</strong></p><p>CMS proposes changing its review process for the Medicare Telehealth Services List by removing the distinction between provisional and permanent services. It also would limit its review to whether the service can be furnished using an interactive, two-way audio/video telecommunications system.</p><p><strong>Telehealth Waivers</strong></p><p>The proposed rule would make changes to several telehealth waivers, including:</p><ul><li>Permanently removing frequency limitations for subsequent inpatient visits, nursing facility visits and critical care consultations.</li><li>Permanently adopting a definition of direct supervision to include virtual presence via audio/video real-time communications technology.</li><li>Extending the ability for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics to bill telehealth services through Dec. 31, 2026.</li></ul><p>CMS does not appear to address its prior waiver that allowed providers to report practice addresses instead of home addresses when they perform services from their home. In addition, for services provided in metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), it does not propose to continue to allow virtual supervision of residents when the service is performed virtually across teaching settings. Instead, this would only be allowed for services provided in non-MSAs. </p><h2>MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG INFLATION REBATE PROGRAM</h2><p>CMS proposes new methodologies to calculate units of Medicare Part D drugs purchased under the 340B drug pricing program that must be excluded from the calculation of Medicare inflation rebates starting on Jan. 1, 2026, as required under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The agency proposes a claims-based methodology that would determine which Part D drug units are 340B-eligible for exclusion from the inflation rebate calculation and solicits comments on two such methodologies: a prescriber-pharmacy methodology and a beneficiary-pharmacy methodology.  One method assumes that any drug that is prescribed by a provider that is affiliated with a 340B provider and is dispensed by a 340B retail pharmacy is a 340B drug. The other assumes that any drug prescribed to a patient of a 340B provider and is dispensed by a 340B retail pharmacy is a 340B drug. The agency notes that these methodologies may overestimate the number of 340B units for exclusion from the inflation rebate calculation.</p><p>As a potential future alternative to the claims-based methodology, CMS proposes establishing a claims data repository to receive voluntary submission from 340B covered entities of certain Part D claims data elements to identify which drug units are 340B-eligible. The agency has issued an Information Collection Request alongside the proposed rule that details the format and process of submitting data elements to the repository.</p><p>The agency anticipates the repository would go live in Fall 2026 with the goal of testing the usability of a 340B repository in identifying and excluding 340B drug units in the calculation of Medicare Part D inflation rebates. The agency encourages all 340B covered entities to participate in the voluntary submission process and notes that it may require mandatory reporting in future rulemaking.</p><h2>AMBULATORY SPECIALTY MODEL</h2><p>CMS proposes creating the ASM, which would focus on low back pain and congestive heart failure. ASM would begin on Jan. 1, 2027, and run for five performance years, through Dec. 31, 2031.</p><p>ASM would include specialists who frequently treat low back pain or heart failure, practice within selected core-based statistical areas or metropolitan divisions, and have historically treated at least 20 fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare patients with low back pain or 20 FFS Medicare patients with heart failure over a 12-month period. Physicians would be assessed individually, not at the practice level. Low back pain specialists would include those practicing in anesthesiology, pain management, interventional pain management, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. Heart failure specialists would include those practicing in cardiology.</p><p>ASM participants would be assessed across four categories: quality, cost, care improvement activities and improving interoperability. Their scores across these categories would determine whether they receive positive, neutral or negative payment adjustments on future Medicare Part B claims for covered services. In the first payment year, these adjustments would range from -9% to +9%. All participants would be subject to this risk. Total positive adjustments for high performers would not exceed the total negative adjustments for low performers.</p><p><strong>BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES</strong></p><p>CMS proposes updates intended to enhance integration of behavioral health into primary care. First, the agency clarifies that marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors can bill Medicare directly for Community Health Integration and Principal Illness Navigation services. Next, CMS proposes creating add-on codes for Advanced Primary Care Management services that complement previously established Behavioral Health Integration or psychiatric Collaborative Care Model services. Lastly, CMS proposes deleting the HCPCS code finalized in the CY 2024 PFS final rule that describes social determinants of health risk assessment and altering language throughout the regulations to refer to “upstream drivers” of health rather than “social determinants.”</p><p>The agency also proposes updates to previously established payment codes for services provided using digital mental health treatment (DMHT) devices, including expanding payment for use of DMHT for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. CMS seeks comments on other ways to enhance the use of digital tools, such as those used to maintain or encourage a healthy lifestyle; administration of an FDA-authorized eye-tracking technology in the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder on pediatric patients; and payment policies for the use of software-based clinical decision support technologies (referred to Software as a Service, or SaaS).</p><p><strong>MEDICARE SHARED SAVINGS PROGRAM</strong></p><p>CMS proposes several changes to the Shared Savings Program’s policies regarding performance, financial methodology, beneficiary assignment methodology, participation options and availability of new payment options (among other changes) beginning with performance year 2027. One such change would be to reduce the time an accountable care organization (ACO) can participate in a one-sided model of the BASIC track from seven to five years to encourage participation in two-sided risk models. CMS also would modify eligibility and financial reconciliation requirements related to the statutory requirement that ACOs have at least 5,000 assigned Medicare FFS beneficiaries; the agency believes these changes would allow for flexibility in the minimum number of assigned beneficiaries required in benchmark years.</p><p>CMS also proposes updates to the quality performance standards and other quality reporting requirements in the program. The agency would revise the definition of a beneficiary eligible for Medicare Clinical Quality Measures to overlap more with the beneficiaries assignable to an ACO. CMS proposes to remove the health equity adjustment applied to an ACO’s quality score beginning with performance year 2025 and remove the screening for social drivers of health measure from the APP Plus quality measure set. The agency also would require Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) survey vendors to offer the survey via web mode (in addition to mail and phone) beginning in 2027. CMS also proposes to expand the application of extreme and uncontrollable circumstances policies to ACOs affected by cyberattacks.</p><p><strong>QUALITY PAYMENT PROGRAM</strong></p><p>CMS proposes several changes to further the goal of phasing out MIPS in favor of participation in specialty-specific MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs). Several of these are administrative, including a new requirement for the MVP group registration process to include a multispecialty self-attestation requirement and the maintenance of the MVP group reporting option for multispecialty groups with a small practice designation.</p><p>The agency also makes proposals to support clinicians in data collection and reporting. First, CMS would update the MVP inventory to stratify quality measures by clinical conditions and/or episodes of care to help clinicians select the most clinically relevant measures. Next, the agency would allow qualified clinical data registries additional time (i.e., through the CY 2025 performance period) to support finalized MVPs.</p><p>The agency proposes six new MVPs around the following topics:</p><ul><li>Diagnostic radiology.</li><li>Interventional radiology.</li><li>Neuropsychology.</li><li>Pathology.</li><li>Podiatry.</li><li>Vascular surgery.</li></ul><p>CMS also proposes modifications to the following performance categories:</p><p><strong>Quality Performance.</strong><em> </em>CMS proposes establishing an updated inventory of 190 MIPS measures. The agency would remove 10 measures that are topped out, no longer aligned with clinical guidelines, no longer maintained by measure stewards or focused on process. CMS would adopt five new MIPS electronic clinical quality measures as well as measures that focus on outcomes. CMS also proposes substantive changes to 42 MIPS quality measures.</p><p><strong>Cost Performance.</strong> CMS proposes to modify the total per capita cost measure beginning with the CY 2026 performance period. The agency also proposes updating the operational list of care episodes and patient condition groups and codes to reflect recent coding changes. Finally, CMS proposes adopting, beginning with the CY 2026 performance period, an informational-only feedback period for MIPS cost measures with a lookback period of two years.</p><p><strong>Improvement Activities.</strong> In alignment with the administration’s focus on preventive care and well-being, CMS proposes adding a new “Advancing Health and Wellness” subcategory within the improvement activities performance category. Moreover, CMS will add three new improvement activities into the Population Management and Patient Safety and Practice Assessment subcategories and remove the Achieving Health Equity subcategory.</p><p><strong>Promoting Interoperability. </strong>CMS proposes modifying two measures in this category and adopting one new optional bonus measure related to public health reporting. The agency also proposes measure suppression and exclusion processes and seeks comments on other measures in this category.</p><p>The agency would continue using the CY 2017 performance period (2019 MIPS payment year) to establish the performance threshold, which would be 75 points for the CY 2026 performance period (2028 MIPS payment year) through the CY 2028 performance period (2030 MIPS payment year).</p><p>Finally, CMS seeks comments on several topics related to digital quality measurement in MIPS, specifically the use of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resource (FHIR)-based quality reporting.</p><h2>REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: EXECUTIVE ORDER 14192 ‘UNLEASHING PROSPERITY THROUGH DEREGULATION’</h2><p>On Jan. 31, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation,” which states the administration’s policy to significantly reduce the private expenditures required to comply with federal regulations. Accordingly, CMS is soliciting public input on approaches and opportunities to streamline regulations and reduce administrative burdens on providers, suppliers, beneficiaries and other interested parties participating in the Medicare program. CMS is <a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare-regulatory-relief-rfi">collecting</a> responses and requests stakeholders submit comments through the provided web link.</p><h2>FURTHER QUESTIONS</h2><p>CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule through Sept. 12. The final rule will be published around Nov. 1. The policies and payment rates will generally take effect Jan. 1, 2026.</p><p>If you have further questions, contact Joanna Hiatt Kim, AHA’s vice president of payment policy, at <a href="mailto:jkim@aha.org">jkim@aha.org</a>. </p></div><div class="col-md-4"><a href="/system/files/media/file/2025/07/cms-issues-cy-2026-physician-fee-schedule-proposed-rule-advisory-7-15-2025.pdf" target="_blank" title="Click here to download the Regulatory Advisory: CMS Issues CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule PDF."><img src="/sites/default/files/2025-07/image-cms-issues-cy-2026-physician-fee-schedule-proposed-rule-advisory-7-15-2025-638-px.png" data-entity-uuid data-entity-type="file" alt="Regulatory Advisory: CMS Issues CY 2026 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Cover." width="NaN" height="NaN"></a></div></div></div> Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:09:53 -0500 Behavioral Health Care Delivery