NJAMHAA-70th-anniversary-publication

70 I n the months and years to come, NJAMHAA will persevere in its advocacy on issues that are expected to continue – namely, the need for expanded access and increased reimbursement – and explore new projects to increase its support for members. “We will continue to seek new ways to enhance integrated health care and achieve even greater impact on individuals’ access to behavioral health services. We will also go far beyond, focusing not only on treatment itself, but also fortifying providers’ ongoing sustainability,” Dr. Wentz said. Several current and former Board members reinforced NJAMHAA’s goals regarding integrated health care. “I’d like to see NJAMHAA become more involved in integrated care and have members be the integrated care providers and not farm this out,” John Monahan, former NJAMHAA Board Chair said. “NJAMHAA must focus on integration, not only of health care, but also of behavioral healthcare providers into the larger healthcare system,” said Joe Masciandaro, former NJAMHAA and NJMHI Board Chair and President/CEO of CarePlus NJ. “NJAMHAA should focus on larger systems. Home rule will become more difficult and behavioral healthcare providers will find it difficult to continue as freestanding agencies.” “We need to achieve broader integration of community services and of allied health coming together in the community setting,” added Susan Loughery, current NJAMHAA Board Chair and Associate Executive Director of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton. “A focus on the broader systems architecture is needed, and we must examine meaningful data and use it to improve outcomes.” Regarding data, Loughery recommended that NJAMHAA establish a research component. “We have so much raw data about different types of services that members provide. We need to bring the information together in a holistic way,” she said. Related to the issue of integrated services, Manny Guantez, Consultant for Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care and a former NJAMHAA Board member, recommended that NJAMHAA continue to focus on issues that are critical to substance use disorder treatment providers. “NJAMHAA needs to keep communicating that addiction is a chronic disease, and we need to do a lot for both mental health care and substance use treatment,” Dr. Guantez said. “We need to emphasize that the association also focuses on the need for housing and advocates for parity,” he added. Integration is also associated with consolidation of provider organizations to strengthen their businesses and, therefore, their ongoing viability. “We’re living in a world of mergers and acquisitions. NJAMHAA needs to continue to provide training and education on this to help providers come to terms with where they’re going to end up in this field,” said Mary Gay Abbott-Young, LCADC, current NJAMHAA Board member and President of Rescue Mission of Trenton. “All services are needed,” Abbott-Young emphasized. “The system is complex and NJAMHAA will need to shepherd mega providers while continuing to serve small providers. It will be a challenge and I know NJAMHAA is up to it.” Looking Ahead to Continued and New Initiatives with a Focus on Integration