Pledging to Advance Behavioral Health

On July 29, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., met with dozens of health care leaders, medical societies, providers, and behavioral health experts for an event at a HHS headquarters in Washington, where they collectively committed to advancing best practices that support National Behavioral Health Quality and Best Practices. Following a series of panel discussions, attendees signed a pledge to strengthen the nation’s behavioral health system.

Event Agenda

Introduction and Moderation — Tim Westlake, M.D., FACEP
Chief of Staff, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Welcome & Opening

• Kathryn Burgum
  Co-Chair, Great American Recovery

Fireside Chat: The Case for National Standards

• Moderated by: Dr. Clive Fields
  Chair, HHS/CMS Healthcare Advisory Committee
• Mehmet Oz, M.D.
  Administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
  Services
• Patrick Conway, M.D.
  Chief Executive Officer, Optum

Panel Discussions

• Moderated by: Tim Westlake, M.D., FACEP
  Chief of Staff, Substance Abuse and Mental Health
  Services Administration

Panel 1: Health Plans

• Taft Parsons, M.D.
  Chief Psychiatric Officer
  Aetna, a CVS Health Company
• Caroline Carney, M.D.
  Chief Executive Officer, Magellan Behavioral Health
• Shantanu Agrawal, M.D.
  Chief Health Officer, Elevance Health
• Katherine Suberlak
  Vice President, Behavioral Health Transformation,
  Humana

Panel 2: National Stakeholder Associations

• Chuck Ingoglia
  President and Chief Executive Officer, National
  Council for Mental Wellbeing
• Rob Morrison
  Executive Director, National Association of State
  Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors
• Brian Hepburn
  Executive Director, National Association of State
  Mental Health Program Directors
• Debbie Witchey
  President and Chief Executive Officer, Association
  for Behavioral Health and Wellness
• Kyu Rhee, M.D.
  President and Chief Executive Officer, National
  Association of Community Health Centers

Panel 3: Professional Medical Associations

• Bobby Mukkamala, M.D.
  Immediate Past President, American Medical
  Association
• Robert G.G. Piccinni, D.O.
  Immediate Past President, American Osteopathic
  Association
• Mark Hyman Rapaport, M.D.
  President, American Psychiatric Association
• Stephen Taylor, M.D.
  President, American Society of Addiction Medicine
• Arthur Evans, Ph.D.
  Chief Executive Officer, American Psychological
  Association

Remarks by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Pledge Signing and Closing Program