Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Financing Reform and Innovations has developed a new Information Resource Center to provide people in the behavioral health care field important information about how the Affordable Care Act can improve access to behavioral healthcare services. The Information Resource Center can answer many of the specific questions about how the Affordable Care Act will affect various aspects of the behavioral health care community, as well as provide updates on the status of the Affordable Care Act’s implementation.

SAMHSA’s Information Resource Center is easy is to use. Simply email your question to CFRI.info.samhsa@samhsa.hhs.gov and you will receive a response within 48 business hours. 

The Information Resource Center staff is trained to quickly and efficiently link you to the appropriate federal websites, documents, and guidance materials to answer your questions. The Information Resource Center is also developing a frequently asked questions (FAQ) feature that will cover the most sought after topics. 

In addition, SAMHSA is developing Financing Focus .   This monthly newsletter provides the best up-to-date news on the Affordable Care Act’s implementation related to behavioral health across the nation. Anyone interested in this up-to-date information can sign up at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USSAMHSA/subscriber/new or view the most recent Financing Focus at http://www.samhsa.gov/healthReform/docs/Financing-Focus-011712.pdf .

SAMHSA is a public health agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. Its mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.