We are excited to announce our partnership with the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) to create a roadmap towards Medicaid expansion.
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is a nonprofit organization known for advancing innovative and cost-effective health care solutions, particularly for Medicaid populations and other underserved groups in the U.S. They are widely recognized as a national expert in Medicaid policy, health system reform, and improving care for low-income and underserved populations. Their work helps shape national and state-level health care strategies and their expertise is frequently sought by government agencies, health plans, providers, and foundations working to improve Medicaid, complex care management, health equity, and social determinants of health integration.
With their access to current and former Medicaid Directors, mental health agency leaders, national providers associations (e.g. National Council for Mental Wellbeing) they will provide PMHA Alliance with a high-level analysis of state Medicaid behavioral health policies and the provider landscape that will impact equitable access to PAT – including a summary of which services, as relevant to a PAT model, are covered in all or some states. This includes identifying how and where state Medicaid covers social supports (e.g., transportation, care coordination, etc.) that impact access to treatment. They will examine relevant examples of other novel behavioral health treatment approaches that have gained traction in Medicaid – including community-defined evidence practices, contingency management, medical cannabis, and medications for addiction treatment (e.g., buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone).
The partnership with CHCS will help the PMHA Alliance map a strategy for Medicaid expansion by targeting states with already exciting policies that support PAT expansion. In addition, the partnership and the interviews will help spread the knowledge and benefits of PAT into current health care systems and help shape the policy debate about access to PAT.
‘The Medicaid program currently serves over 70 million people, with a significant portion of members in Black, Latinx, Native American, and rural communities. These communities face systemic barriers to mental health care, resulting in poor outcomes, untreated conditions and high mortality rates.The potential of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) represents a breakthrough in mental health treatment, particularly for populations affected by trauma, depression, and substance use disorders. Research indicates that psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine can significantly improve outcomes for individuals resistant to traditional therapies. However, as these treatments gain FDA approval, there is a pressing need to establish infrastructure and funding pathways that ensure marginalized communities can access PAT, and these treatments are not relegated to only those who can afford private care. Without a Medicaid-integrated framework for PAT, many low-income individuals will continue to suffer from the debilitating effects of mental and behavioral health illness, and remain excluded from these potentially transformative therapies.Recognizing this, The Psychedelic Mental Health Access alliance (formerly known as PHEI) is committed to securing Medicaid support for PAT to dismantle access barriers for underserved populations. Through strategic partnerships, particularly with Medicaid policy leaders and stakeholders, PMHA will develop, validate, and advocate for equitable care models that are feasible within Medicaid, effectively bridging the gap in access to care for communities who need this transformative breakthrough in effective treatments for mental health.”
Why is this work essential in ensuring Medicaid funding for psychedelic-assisted therapy, and what makes it uniquely important?
Tanya Shah:
‘The Medicaid program currently serves over 70 million people, with a significant portion of members in Black, Latinx, Native American, and rural communities. These communities face systemic barriers to mental health care, resulting in poor outcomes, untreated conditions and high mortality rates.
The potential of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy (PAT) represents a breakthrough in mental health treatment, particularly for populations affected by trauma, depression, and substance use disorders. Research indicates that psychedelics like psilocybin and ketamine can significantly improve outcomes for individuals resistant to traditional therapies. However, as these treatments gain FDA approval, there is a pressing need to establish infrastructure and funding pathways that ensure marginalized communities can access PAT, and these treatments are not relegated to only those who can afford private care. Without a Medicaid-integrated framework for PAT, many low-income individuals will continue to suffer from the debilitating effects of mental and behavioral health illness, and remain excluded from these potentially transformative therapies.
Recognizing this, The Psychedelic Mental Health Access alliance (formerly known as PHEI) is committed to securing Medicaid support for PAT to dismantle access barriers for underserved populations. Through strategic partnerships, particularly with Medicaid policy leaders and stakeholders, PMHA will develop, validate, and advocate for equitable care models that are feasible within Medicaid, effectively bridging the gap in access to care for communities who need this transformative breakthrough in effective treatments for mental health.”
How is the partnership with CHCS building bridges to Medicaid and influencing future planning?
The Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) is a nationally recognized leader in advancing innovative healthcare solutions, particularly within Medicaid and public health programs. Their expertise in care integration, behavioral health, and social determinants of health makes them an invaluable partner in shaping Medicaid policy around PAT. CHCS’s strengths include:
· Collaboration with Policymakers and Health Systems: CHCS has a strong reputation for partnering with state Medicaid agencies, healthcare providers, and community organizations to drive systemic change, particularly for vulnerable populations.
· Thought Leadership and Policy Guidance: Recognized as a thought leader in Medicaid and health care reform, CHCS regularly publishes reports and policy briefs that influence national discussions. Their evidence-based insights and objective stance are trusted by funders, policymakers, and health advocates.
· Track Record of Positive Outcomes: CHCS’s initiatives have consistently shown improved care coordination, better integration of behavioral and physical health, and reduced hospital readmissions, all critical factors in serving the complex needs of Medicaid populations.
By partnering with CHCS, PMHA gains access to unmatched expertise in Medicaid integration, strategic technical support, and a network of influential stakeholders in healthcare policy. CHCS’s involvement will be critical in building the Medicaid framework necessary for PAT to become a sustainable, equitable treatment option for those on public insurance programs. Without this partnership with CHCS and the critically importance of PHMA setting the framework that ensures the benefits of PAT are clear across populations in need, many communities could be waiting for years for access to such innovative interventions.
What personally led you to work in health equity, and why does this mission matter to you?
My passion for health equity is rooted in lived experience. My family, which is part of a minority religion called Sikhism, fled India during sectarian violence in the 1980s. Seeking asylum in the US from the Sikh pogroms, I moved in with family in Los Angeles as a young teenager. This instilled in me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by immigrant and underserved communities. At 19, I was introduced to fundamental concepts in public health at UC Berkeley. After learning about how much change and improvement was possible for people suffering from lack of access to healthcare, I decided to dedicate my career to improving health outcomes for marginalized populations. By working in Medicaid and Medicare policy reform, I was able to help build and scale innovative, evidence-based programs for communities of color and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
The development of models addressing social determinants of health for those with complex needs, resulting in new, integrated programs and policies that bridge medical, behavioral, and social care for underserved populations has now been a 30-year passion of mine. Psychedelic assisted therapy is an exciting new breakthrough for a massive public health issue facing our communities today. I am eager to bring all my years of service to bear for this critical crisis in mental health treatment and access. I look forward to learning from our patients, experts, healthcare decision-makers and community leaders on how we can make PAT an option for all those in need of better mental health care.