MedCity Influencers, Policy

Need to embrace quality outcome measures for behavioral health

These outcome measures will weed out weak provider systems and reaffirm the need for evidence-based care proved by research/outcomes.

Last week, Washington D.C. played host to #NAMICon17, a convention organized by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The national nonprofit welcomed over 1000 policymakers, physicians, researchers, and mental health advocates for a week of advocacy, strategy, and action in mental health.

This event was particularly charged with advocates focused on using NAMI’s Hill Day to address specifics over the recently released and controversial GOP health care bill. As a physician and business leader in the mental health industry, it was refreshing to be surrounded by people who are equally passionate about mental health and the policy that shapes it.

There were three takeaways from several days packed with information, networking, and strategic conversations about the present and future of mental health care in the United States.

True bipartisanship 

The specter of potential healthcare policy changes was inescapable. Several “get smart” sessions throughout the week offered participants the opportunity to learn about the pending legislation that will certainly affect mental healthcare. Senators put aside their parties’ differences and came together to talk about the perils and opportunities facing their constituents. It was uplifting, to say the least, in the current political climate. What was clear was there are some bare minimum requirements to ensure the protection of patients needing mental health care including:

  • No lifetime caps on care;
  • Ensure coverage through Medicaid which provides insurance coverage for many our most vulnerable with mental illness;
  • Protections for people with pre-existing conditions including mental health issues;
  • Secure budget and access to mental health for veterans and members of the military;
  • Better support for caregivers;
  • Secure funds for research and innovation for mental health;

Need for behavioral health metrics

NAMI representatives confirmed CEO Mary Giliberti’s devotion to developing industry measures to improve quality in behavioral health. These outcome measures will weed out weak provider systems and reaffirm the need for evidence-based care proved by research/outcomes. Organizations such as the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) will be instrumental in creating national standards.

Innovative solutions

The problems in mental health are complex. To solve this crisis, it requires people from the public and private sectors asking each other tough questions. For example, with the prevalence of stigma, how can the healthcare system properly identify those in need? And once you find those in need, how can you treat them uniformly? Academics, providers, and NAMI affiliates joined forces in discussing innovators within behavioral health that are driving solutions and progress, including technology to improve care and advances in care delivery.

There is much progress to be made, but the NAMI convention was a reminder that there’s a lot of good that can be accomplished when we come together as clinicians, advocates and policy makers putting the patients first and ensuring we care for those most in need.

Photo: nambitomo, Getty Images 


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Dr. Reena Pande

As Chief Medical Officer of AbleTo, Reena serves as a passionate voice for the need to bridge the gaps between medical health and behavioral health. She spearheads AbleTo’s data analytics and outcomes research. In addition to her work at AbleTo, Dr. Pande is a practicing cardiologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA and Instructor at Harvard Medical School.

Reena Pande earned her undergraduate degree in Biology from Harvard University, her M.D. from Harvard Medical School, and a Masters degree in Epidemiology from the Harvard School of Public Health. She completed her internship, residency training, and fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease and Vascular Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

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