Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

In March 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (together referred to as the Affordable Care Act) that make health insurance coverage more affordable for individuals, families, and the owners of small businesses. The Affordable Care Act is one aspect of a broader movement toward a reformed behavioral health system.

For the behavioral health field, "health reform" includes MHPAEA, Olmstead¹ and early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT)² issues, integration with the broader health system, and increased use of health information technology (HIT). More specific efforts are also important to the reform of the behavioral health system, such as the National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the Tribal Law and Order Act, and the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Read more about health reform. For more information on SAMHSA's role in health reform see SAMHSA's Leading Change: A Plan for SAMHSA's Roles and Actions 2011 – 2014.

What we are doing

Parity

• Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
  Information and resources on mental health and substance abuse services parity for consumers, insurance purchasers and States.

Health Homes

• Health Home Information and Opportunities
  Information about health homes including screening tools, models, outcomes, and research.

Prevention

• Prevention Information and Opportunities
  Information about prevention initiatives in health reform and changes in prevention health insurance benefits.

Medicare

• Medicare Information and Opportunities
  Information on Medicare, Accountable Care Organizations and Dual Eligibles.

Block Grants

• SAMHSA Block Grants
  Information about SAMHSA’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grants

Resources

Webinars

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Visit SAMHSA's webinar archive for information about previously aired webinars in the series.

Fact Sheets

Information for consumers, providers, States, and the public about important topics and provisions regarding the Affordable Care Act.

• Importance of Primary and Behavioral Health Care 4/14/11 [PDF - 900kb]
• Health Disparities and the Affordable Care Act 4/14/11 [PDF - 400kb]
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity 4/8/11 [PDF - 100kb]
• Immediate Changes to Health Reform and How to Become Involved 3/28/11 [PDF - 1Mb]
• Quick Facts on Health Reform 3/28/11 [PDF - 1.1Mb]
• Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan 3/28/11 [PDF - 1.3Mb]
• Commonly Used Terms in Health Reform 3/28/11 [PDF - 908Kb]

Timelines

• Healthcare.gov Timeline
• SAMHSA Timeline for Health Reform 8-23-10 [PDF - 670KB]

Other Resources

• Description of a Good and Modern Addictions and Mental Health Service System [PDF - 99KB]
• Financing Center of Excellence - News and information on health care financing
• Health Reform Core Consensus Principles [PDF - 453KB] - a framework for discussion
• HealthCare.gov

Last updated: 12/23/2011

1. In 1999, the U.S. Supreme Court issued the landmark Olmstead decision applying the Americans with Disabilities Act to the right of individuals with disabilities to receive health care in a community-based setting.
2. This child health component of Medicaid is required in every State.