76. Mental Health Legislative Priorities for 2025: What’s on the Agenda?

As the 2025 legislative session heats up, we’re unpacking the key priorities shaping mental health policy for the year ahead. From the challenges of re-aligning Medicaid systems to the pressing need for a comprehensive kids’ mental health framework, we’ll discuss how these issues impact individuals and families. Dive into data from the Kaiser Family Foundation and explore advocacy agendas from organizations like NAMI Iowa, CAMHI4Kids, and the Coalition for Children and Families. Tune in to hear actionable insights from mental health leaders and explore the path forward for creating sustainable and equitable behavioral health systems.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Mastering the Strategies to Navigate Behavioral Health System Challenges
• Unlocking the Secrets to Improving Access to Mental Health Services
• Unveiling the Top Legislative Priorities for Behavioral Health
• Decoding the Impact of Medicaid Redesign on Behavioral Health
• Empowering Advocacy for Mental Health in Schools

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:02 - Introduction to Behavioral Health System
00:03:23 - Historical Changes in the Behavioral Health System
00:08:19 - Impact on Behavioral Health Providers
00:10:05 - Focus on Children's Behavioral Health
00:11:40 - Changes in Medicaid Administration
00:13:11 - Changes in Boards and Commissions
00:14:57 - Legislative Agendas and Key Themes
00:18:28 - Fluidity of Legislative Details
00:20:42 - Impact of 1115 Waiver
00:25:53 - Managing Multiple Projects and Redesign
00:26:37 - Importance of evaluating outcomes of change
00:27:18 - Need for stability in systems
00:28:02 - Self-care tips for advocating in the legislature
00:30:12 - Advocacy and legislation based on data
00:31:50 - Focus on holding people accountable

Links:

• KFF Waiver tracker by state
• Approved and pending list
• NAMI Legislative agenda 
• CAMHI4Kids 
• Coalition of Children and Families
• IACP
• ISAC

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Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/9x-TQxi4I4g