Workforce Solutions Jam | H.R. 1 and the Future of Behavioral Health: What Leaders Need to Know Now
This webinar was hosted as a partnership between the College for Behavioral Health Leadership (CBHL), The National Council for Mental Wellbeing, and Health Management Associates (HMA).
Series Overview: H.R.1 introduces significant changes to Medicaid that will shape the behavioral health landscape in the years ahead. As states begin implementing new requirements and organizations prepare for evolving operational and workforce considerations, behavioral health leaders will need practical strategies to support access to care, strengthen organizational readiness, and sustain their workforce.
This three-part webinar series will help behavioral health providers, association leaders, and workforce stakeholders understand key provisions of H.R.1, prepare for implementation, and develop approaches for leading through change.
Participants will gain insights, practical tools, and real-world examples to help their organizations adapt while remaining focused on their mission and the communities they serve.
Webinar description: As states begin making H.R. 1 implementation decisions, leaders must understand what is changing, who may be affected, and where uncertainty remains. This session will review the major provisions of H.R.1 and explore new considerations for coverage, access to care, workforce planning, and organizational readiness.
Learning Objectives:
- Define H.R.1 provisions most likely to affect behavioral health organizations and the populations they serve.
- Identify populations at increased risk of coverage loss or barriers to maintaining Medicaid eligibility.
- Explain how state implementation decisions may influence provider operations, workforce demands, and access to care.
Audience: We welcome all who are interested in key provisions of H.R.1. The material is primarily structured to provide maximum value to behavioral health providers, association leaders, and workforce stakeholders.
Resources:
- H.R.1 Implementation and Journey Map (The National Council for Mental Wellbeing)
- The Behavioral Health Workforce Pipeline: Where it Stands and Where its Headed
Speaker Information
Wendy Morris, RN, MSN, CS, has enjoyed various roles in patient care and leadership across the continuum in behavioral health for more than three decades, including inpatient, outpatient, and home health services as well as state government. She served as commissioner for Kentucky’s Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities for several years and is currently a Senior Behavioral Health Advisor at the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD).
Ms. Morris holds a Master of Science in Community Health Nursing from the University of Kentucky and is credentialed as a Public Health Clinical Nurse Specialist by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Peter Delia is a Federal Policy and Advocacy Strategist for the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. He manages several federal policy portfolios for the National Council, including issues related to H.R.1 implementation, workforce, and substance use among others. Prior to coming to the National Council, Peter worked as a senior attorney for the Florida Senate, where he drafted legislation related to behavioral health and Medicaid. He also worked as an attorney for the Florida Department of Health, where he practiced administrative litigation.
Steve Appleton has been in post since January 2022, having previously worked as the European Regional Lead between 2019-2022 and UK Liaison between 2017-2019.
Prior to this, Steve was Managing Director of a consultancy and research practice specialising in work relating to mental health, housing, disability and older age.
Steve originally trained as a social worker. He held several practice posts and operational management roles in local government and then worked as a senior manager in a regional agency of the English National Health Service, leading on mental health strategy and performance. He has worked nationally and internationally on population based mental health improvement programs in cities and urban regions.
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He is the author of a range of UK national guidance and best practice and has played a leading role in population based mental health initiatives in cities across the UK and beyond.
Alongside his role with GLE Steve also serves as Chair of the Board of the Association of Mental Health Providers in England and Wales, and Chair of the Board of Beacon CHC. He is a member of the Global Leadership Council of eMHIC and a Global Advisor to the Coalition for Mental Health Investment. Steve is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Background
The Workforce Solutions Jam is a monthly webinar to build national momentum and encourage collaboration through the Workforce Solutions Partnership. The partnership is leveraging Collective Impact to address the workforce crisis, and using a cross-sector approach to address the long-standing challenges for expanding and solidifying the behavioral health workforce.
The Workforce Solutions Partnership is the partnership between the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Health Management Associates and the College for Behavioral Health Leadership. The Center for Workforce Solutions continues to operate as an initiative of the National Council.