NJAMHAA-FY23-Annual-Report

21 NJAMHAA Annual Report FY 2023 Adult Mental Health Practice Group Co-Chairs: Frank Ghinassi, PhD, ABPP NJAMHAA Board Treasurer, NJMHI Board Member, President and CEO, Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care (UBHC) and Senior Vice Pres., Behavioral Health and Addictions Service Line, RWJBarnabas Health Kathy White Thomas, MS NJAMHAA Board Member and Chief Operating Officer, Volunteers of America - Delaware Valley The Adult Mental Health Practice Group engaged in many discussions and contributed to NJAMHAA’s advocacy on many issues, including the carve-in of services into Medicaid Managed Care; the workforce shortages; licensing backlogs; and inconsistencies in audits. This group also hosted several guest presenters to expand members’ knowledge of various programs and potential partners. These included an overview of the 988 Crisis Response System, as well as details about further infrastructure development that is needed; a presentation on Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s recently established Center for Eating Disorders and Body Positivity; and a presentation on Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center’s Project HEAL, a community partnership to Help, Empower and Lead. Chief Financial Officers Practice Group Chair: Jacques Hryshko, LPC, ACS NJAMHAA Board Chair and CEO, Family Connections Vice Chair: Steve Marchiano, MBA, CPA Chief Financial Officer, Jewish Family Service of Atlantic & Cape May Counties The Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Practice Group conducted several surveys this past year. Results of a survey on healthcare plan increases that closed at the beginning of the fiscal year were reported during the September 2022 meeting. In November, in response to a request from DMHAS, a survey on staff vacancies was undertaken. The results have been widely used in advocacy by NJAMHAA and other stakeholders and published by NJ Spotlight . A third salary benchmarking survey was done in December. Data from this survey will be used to reinforce NJAMHAA’s advocacy for funding to address the behavioral health system’s workforce crisis. As this practice group is focused on information sharing as well as advocacy, the CFOs hosted a presentation on self-insurance by Ray Carlson, Regional Vice President, EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants.