National Mental Health and Addiction Advocates Participate in The Kennedy Forum's 2015 Conference

BOSTON, June 9, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Kennedy Forum, the behavioral health policy organization founded by former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), convened in Boston today for its 2015 Conference. The gathering brought together national leaders from government, public policy, service delivery, advocacy, and research to discuss the latest issues and trends in mental health, addiction and recovery.

In opening the conference, Patrick J. Kennedy issued a strong call-to-action, urging everyone, from consumers to insurers, as well as the 2016 presidential field, to push for comprehensive, system-wide change.

"It is clear to me that we are facing great challenges and great opportunities when it comes to mental health and addiction," said Kennedy. "What we need are comprehensive, long-term solutions that steer this country in the right direction, like the ones we'll discuss today, rather than quick fixes that are insufficient in the long run. Working together, we can do it."

Central to The Kennedy Forum's mission is the full implementation of the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Unveiled at the conference was a new online tool, ParityTrack.org, a first-of-its-kind online resource that looks at parity implementation on a state-by-state basis, aggregating information related to legislation, regulation, and litigation. Launching today with five states, the tool will expand over the course of the next year, with the goal to have all 50 states and the District of Columbia represented. ParityTrack.org was created through a partnership with the Scattergood Foundation and the Treatment Research Institute, both based in Philadelphia.

"We believe, as The Kennedy Forum does as well, that full implementation of the parity law is critical to the health and wellbeing of families, communities, and individuals," said Joe Pyle, president of The Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation. "It is as true for addiction treatment as it is for banking regulations, hospital accreditation and school inspections – the public will not get the services the law requires unless there is active, state-level monitoring and reporting of the services actually provided," said A. Thomas McLellan, PhD, board chair and co-founder of TRI.

Over the course of the one-day conference, discussions included topics related to the 2008 parity law and its implementation, the promise of new technology, the need for quality and outcomes measures, and what's emerging on the global stage. The conference featured a lunchtime panel on the opioid overdose crisis and the future of addiction policy in America that included Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III, Michael Botticelli, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and Dr. Nora Volkow, M.D., director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

With consumer rights coming into greater focus, an updated resource guide entitled "Simplifying the Appeals Process: Strategies for Winning Disputes with your Health Plan" was also released at the conference. Developed in collaboration with the Parity Implementation Coalition, this critical resource provides consumers a clear path to understanding their rights under the 2008 law, how to file an appeal if they have been denied coverage for behavioral health, and other useful information as they navigate the healthcare system.

"Consumers have rights under the 2008 law, but oftentimes they don't know exactly what is afforded to them, what parity means, or how to file an appeal if they're denied coverage," said Carol McDaid, co-chair of the Parity Implementation Coalition. "This resource guide helps them navigate what can be an incredibly complex and confusing system."

The Kennedy Forum has pursued an ambitious agenda since it was established in October 2013. Building from the 2008 parity law, the Forum is taking a coordinated approach to issues related to provider and payer accountability, integration and coordination of care, promising technology, brain fitness, and early intervention. This landscape – challenging, but full of opportunity – has been the focal point of our efforts, which includes:

• The inaugural State of the Union in Mental Health and Addiction, held in February 2015, which set the standard for what policymakers, the media, advocates, and others should understand about what is at stake in mental health today, and where we need to go in the future. 
• A groundbreaking new partnership with the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at the Morehouse School of Medicine, which will focus on highlighting, expanding, and promoting best practices in mental health and addiction treatment and policy.
• Convening dozens of experts from across sectors to discuss the intricacies of behavioral health practice, service delivery, and policy, with the resulting series of white papers and issue briefs set to be released later this year.

"Our efforts are changing the national dialogue on mental health and addictions, and our work is having an impact," said William Emmet, executive director of The Kennedy Forum. "Our role is that of convener – analyzing approaches, amplifying what works, and holding the system accountable for the progress we all seek. This conference, and its diverse viewpoints and opinions, are a key element to our ongoing efforts."

The Kennedy Forum 2015 Conference kicked off with a gala dinner on Monday, June 8 at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, which featured addresses from Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, civil rights activist Martin Luther King III, and actor and singer Wayne Brady. The Conference and Gala are chaired by Beacon Health Options, MADO Healthcare Centers, Otsuka, Partners Healthcare, Sunovion, IMHRO, and One Mind.

For more information about The Kennedy Forum, and a full list of sponsors, visit www.thekennedyforum.org. Follow us on Twitter @kennedyforum.

SOURCE The Kennedy Forum