The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation hosted an event featuring the release of the 2018 Massachusetts Health Reform Survey (MHRS) results. In addition to updated data on its core measures of health care access and affordability, the 2018 MHRS includes data on access to care for mental health and substance use disorder services for the first time. MHRS has been conducted periodically since 2006 to track changes in the health care system in Massachusetts.

Following the presentation of MHRS data, there were two panel discussions on key survey topics, including health care affordability and access to care for mental health and substance use disorders.

Problem Management Plus (PM+) is a community-based, low-intensity mental health intervention that can be delivered by trained non-clinical workers for adults experiencing mild to moderate mental health distress and practical problems of daily living. PM+ fills a gap in the behavioral health services system by providing early intervention and potential prevention of more acute behavioral health service needs. By helping to build the capacity of the workforce, PM+ holds promise for improving access to community-based mental health supports. Earlier this year, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation (Foundation) launched its Advancing Community-Driven Mental Health (ACDMH) grant program which leverages the evidence-based PM+ intervention to enhance access to mental health supports among five community-based organizations in Massachusetts.

To help broaden the understanding of community-based mental health supports the Foundation hosted a webinar on Tuesday, November 7^th from 1-2:30 PM on the topic of PM+. The webinar focused on how this evidence-based intervention – which was originally developed by the World Health Organization to address mental health treatment gaps in low- and middle-income countries – is now being implemented in the United States. The webinar provided an overview of the key components of PM+ and describe lessons learned based on the experience with implementing the intervention in the United States. It featured several guest speakers, including the leaders from three U.S. sites that have recently implemented PM+, and included a brief overview of the Foundation’s ACDMH initiative.

Featured Speakers:

• Adam Brown, PhD, Associate Professor of Psychology (Clinical) and Vice Provost for Research, The New School
• Piper Derenoncourt, LICSW, Assistant Director, Mental Health Equity Programs, The Family Van
• Jerome Galea, PhD, MSW, LCSW, Associate Professor of Social Work, University of South Florida
• Giuseppe Raviola, MD, MPH, Director, Mental Health, Partners In Health
• Rainelle Walker-White, Associate Director, Health Equity Programs, The Family Van

Click here to view a recording of the webinar.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation hosted an event on the topic of access to outpatient mental health services in Massachusetts. The event featured remarks by Secretary Marylou Sudders of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and a presentation from Abt Associates on the results of a never before released mixed-methods study to better understand access to outpatient mental health services in Massachusetts. The researchers discussed key study findings, which are based on interviews with stakeholders and consumer focus groups, as well as quantitative data from a statewide survey of mental health providers and a survey of organizations providing outpatient mental health services to predominantly MassHealth clients.

The program included two panel discussions highlighting (1) other relevant research on this topic and (2) programs, practices, resources, and models of care that have demonstrated success in facilitating access to outpatient mental health services.

In early 2023, Massachusetts began implementing its Roadmap for Behavioral Health Reform (Roadmap), a sweeping set of changes aimed at simplifying access and entry to the state’s outpatient behavioral health care system for all Massachusetts residents. The Roadmap reforms are designed to address challenges with the current behavioral health care system, including difficulty finding community-based providers and culturally relevant services, a lack of integrated mental health and addiction treatment, and a continued reliance on the emergency department for crisis and acute care.

Last month the Foundation released a report describing the key components of the Roadmap and how they are intended to improve access to behavioral health care services. It also provided an update on Roadmap implementation, described early successes and challenges, and identified opportunities to strengthen implementation moving forward.

As a follow on to the release of this report, the Foundation hosted a webinar with the report's authors from Manatt Health on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 1-2 PM. The webinar provided an overview of the Roadmap and key takeaways from the report.

Click here to view a recording of the webinar.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation held an event on Thursday, January 31st on the topic of creating a model behavioral health system in Massachusetts. The event featured a presentation by Manatt Health on the findings from a new report that analyzes the current state of the Massachusetts behavioral health care delivery system, identifies gaps and challenges in the system, and proposes a series of recommendations to help move Massachusetts toward a model behavioral health system. The proposed model system is inclusive of all payers and intends to deliver coordinated, whole-person, and recovery-focused care to individuals with mental health and substance use disorder care needs across the state; the model is based on programs, policies, and practices that have demonstrated success.

Following the presentation of findings, there was a moderated discussion among national experts. They spoke to existing programs or models in other states that have accomplished aspects of what Massachusetts is striving for and key considerations for Massachusetts as it envisions moving toward this model system. Confirmed panelists include:

• Stuart Buttlaire, PhD, Regional Director of Behavioral Health Inpatient, Continuing Care, and Addiction Medicine, Kaiser Permanente
• John O'Brien, Senior Consultant, Technical Assistance Collaborative, Incc
• Kimá Taylor, MD, MPH, Managing Principal, Anka Consulting LLC

On Thursday, December 8th we shared findings from a recent research project highlighting key health care priorities for the incoming Massachusetts Governor and legislative leaders.

This in-person event included the opportunity to network with friends and colleagues and learn about key health care and coverage priority issues and opportunities for the next Administration from our partners at Manatt Health. The agenda also featured a panel discussion that offered reactions on the identified priority issues and potential policy solutions, as well as an opportunity for Q&A.