In partnership with the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association and IARF, BHECON is helping to turn ideas into action. Leveraging outcomes from previous forums and strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, advocates are using data to advance policy reforms that will strengthen Illinois’ behavioral health delivery system. The following timeline outlines major accomplishments, news and research of interest in Illinois.
BHECON, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois (CBHA), the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health (IABH) and IARF held the Illinois Behavioral Health Advocacy Day. National behavioral health policy experts, state officials and community members gathered for a day of advocacy for Illinois’ behavioral health system. This event featured a…
Read moreBHECON joined the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, and the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities to host a legislative breakfast and advocacy forum. The forum, “Behavioral Health Advocacy Day: Building Community,” gathered 80 behavioral health providers, consumers, state legislators, and community members for…
Read moreThe USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics released an updated version of the Illinois State Chartbook for 2019. The latest chartbook includes updated workforce, service utilization and criminal justice data. The chartbook is also accessible in the Research Hub.
Read moreOn May 17, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, and the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, in partnership with the Behavioral Health + Economics Network (BHECON), hosted the Illinois Community Behavioral Health Advocacy Day in Springfield. About 100 people were present for the…
Read moreMay 17th, 2018 in Springfield, IL Save the date for an event hosted by IABH, CBHA and IARF featuring a presentation from the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics and a federal policy update from the National Council for Behavioral Health. Please email dennisa@thenationalcouncil.org for more…
Read moreUSC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics recently released a new version of the Illinois State Chartbook including a handful of updates for Illinois’ 2018 event series. Included is a regional comparison of Mental Health Provider Shortage Areas (HPSAs) which highlights the dire need for additional mental health and…
Read moreThe Cost of Not Treating Mental Illness to Illinois
Read moreImproving access to high-quality medical care for patients with mental illness remains one of the most vexing problems facing the healthcare system in the United States. As a way to highlight key data on the health and economic impact of Medicaid and other federal policies in expanding access to care,…
Read moreOn May 17, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, and NAMI Illinois, in partnership with the Behavioral Health + Economics Network (BHECON), hosted a forum and legislative breakfast on Advancing Community Behavioral Health. The forum focused on…
Read moreWith Illinois on the verge of transforming its behavioral health system though a Medicaid Section 1115 waiver, mental health and addiction providers see opportunities for increased reimbursement rates and flexibility in how they can deliver services—but only if they can work collaboratively with state decision makers to raise awareness of…
Read moreOn October 6, the Community Behavioral Healthcare Association of Illinois, the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health, and the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities, in partnership with the Behavioral Health + Economics Network (BHECON) hosted a discussion on Integrated Health Homes. Participants heard from experienced clinic executives, state agency representatives, and…
Read morePayers and policymakers at all levels are exploring how to incentivize integrated care delivery, streamline patients’ transitions among care settings, and support proactive care management to address the drivers of poor outcomes and high costs. Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics move beyond health homes to address these challenges and advance…
Read moreOn August 30 behavioral health providers and consumers joined state health agency officials for a discussion on the state of Illinois behavioral health system.
Read moreRead Governor Rauner’s proposed changes to behavioral health service delivery through a Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration waiver.
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BHECON is a platform to bring stakeholders, researchers, policy experts and government officials across the fields of behavioral health, criminal justice, and public safety together to consider initiatives and reforms based on sound economic data. BHECON believes leveraging data and engaging diverse stakeholders can drive behavioral health system change to improve the lives of individuals living with serious mental illness.