Mental Health Association of Maryland Hosts Legislative Briefing and Reception

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Jan. 28, 2016 - PRLog -- ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Mental Health Association of Maryland (MHAMD) will host its Legislative Briefing and Reception on February 10, 2016 at the Loews Annapolis Hotel. The theme of this year’s event will be Improving Behavioral Health Outcomes in Primary Care: A Measurement Based Care Integration Approach.

The event:

·     Wednesday, February 10, 2016

·         4:30pm – 8:00pm

·         Loews Annapolis Hotel

·         126 West St, Annapolis, MD 21401

To discuss the topic of Improving Behavioral Health Outcomes in Primary Care will be speakers from various areas of the mental health field:

·          Barbara Bazron, PhD, Executive Director of Maryland Behavioral Health Administration

·         Henry Harbin, MD, Senior Advisor, The Kennedy Forum

·         Michael Schoenbaum, PhD, Senior Advisor, Office of Science Policy, Planning and Communications, National Institute of Mental Health

Dr. Harbin will share The Kennedy Forum’s vision to improve behavioral health care delivery in the United States. Dr. Schoenbaum will present an overview of the Collaborative Care model and its evidence base, and share examples of its implementation in the Medicaid, Medicare and commercial insurance markets as well as the military.

A diverse response panel will discuss the applicability of the model in Maryland:

·         Chet Burrell, President and CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

·         Shannon McMahon, Deputy Secretary, Health Care Financing, for the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

·         Maryland Delegate Dan Morhaim

MHAMD’s annual Legislative Briefing is considered the state’s premier mental health policy event, typically drawing an audience of more than 300 government officials, mental health providers, consumers, family members and advocates.

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For one hundred years, MHAMD has believed that access to both services and information is power.

Founded in 1915, MHAMD is the state’s only volunteer, nonprofit organization that brings together consumers, families, clinicians, advocates and concerned citizens for unified action in all aspects of mental health, mental illness and substance use. Our progressive programs ensure more humane treatment, increased research and greater public understanding of the needs of children and adults who live with behavioral health problems