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Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP)

The Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP) focuses on policies and programs that support the independence, productivity, health and well-being, and long-term care needs of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with mental and substance use disorders.

Note: BHDAP was previously known as the Office of Disability, Aging, and Long-Term Care Policy (DALTCP). Only our office name has changed, not our mission, portfolio, or policy focus.

The Division of Behavioral Health Policy is responsible for the analysis, coordination, research and evaluation of policies related to mental and substance use disorders, also referred to as behavioral health. The division is the focal point for policy development and analysis related to the financing, access/delivery, organization, and quality of services for people with mental and substance use disorders, including those supported or financed by Medicaid, Medicare, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Division of Long-Term Services and Supports is responsible for the analysis, coordination, and research and evaluation of policies related to institutional and community-based long-term care and supportive services, including formal and informal caregiving. The Division is the focal point for policy development and analysis related to the financing, delivery, organization, and quality of long-term care services and supports, including those supported or financed by private insurers, Medicaid, Medicare, and the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

The Division of Disability and Aging Policy is responsible for policy and data development, coordination, research and evaluation of policies and programs focused on the functioning and well-being of persons with disabilities and older adults. The Division is the focal point for crosscutting disability and aging collaboration within the Department and across other federal agencies. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, are notable areas of engagement and expertise.

Helpful Information:

Reports

Displaying 31 - 40 of 1026. 10 per page. Page 4.

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Report

Readiness of Our Crisis System for 988

The recent designation of the three-digit “988” dialing code is intended to improve public awareness of an immediate means to behavioral health crisis services, resulting in both a diversion of behavioral health calls from 911 as well as increased utilization of call services among people in crisis who are not currently getting help.
Report

Federal Funding Compendium of Crisis Services: Final Report

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has recently developed guidelines for establishing a comprehensive crisis response system for behavioral health. Per these guidelines, a comprehensive system should provide individuals in crisis with “someone to call,” “someone to respond,” and “a place to go” to receive crisis response services.
Report

Use of Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities by Medicare Beneficiaries with Dementia

Inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPFs) stabilize patients in a mental health crisis and provide services to patients with serious mental illnesses and those who may cause harm to themselves or others, including people living with dementia who have severe behavioral and psychological symptoms.
ASPE Issue Brief

Innovative 988 Crisis Service Systems for Children, Youth, and People with Disabilities

In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to be operated through the existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was established to improve access to immediate support to meet the behavioral health crisis needs in the United States.
Report

Research Applications of Electronic Recovery Records

Recovery support services (RSS) are non-clinical services that assist individuals and families in attaining and sustaining recovery from substance use disorders.
Report

Availability and Correlates of Integrated Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Disorders in Outpatient Behavioral Health Treatment Facilities

People with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs) benefit from integrated treatment to address both disorders concurrently. For several decades, policymakers and behavioral health systems have worked to overcome the historical separation between mental health and SUD treatment to improve care for people with co-occurring disorders.
Report

Health Information Technology Adoption and Utilization in Behavioral Health Settings: Final Report

Health Information Technology (HIT) was identified as a critical component of the HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration. To support the implementation of the Roadmap, an ASPE study was conducted to provide an overview of HIT adoption and utilization among behavioral health providers.
ASPE Data Point

Trends in In-Person and Telehealth-Involved Controlled Medication Initiations Among Adults with Private Insurance

Since March 2020, HHS and DEA have allowed health care practitioners to initiate controlled medications via a telehealth visit without first conducting an in-person medical evaluation, representing a substantial change in how these medications, and the conditions they are used to treat, can be managed.
ASPE Issue Brief

Understanding the Optimal Balance of Using Telehealth and In-person Services to Support Adults with Serious Mental Illness and Children with Serious Emotional Disturbance

This brief summarizes findings from a research project that examined access to and use of tele-mental health services among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and children with serious emotional disturbance (SED) and behavioral health consumer and provider perceptions of the optimal balance of telehealth and in-person services for people with SMI and SED.
Report

Wait Time Standards for Behavioral Health Network Adequacy

Insufficient access to behavioral health (BH) care and the inability to get timely care are significant problems in the United States. Concerns about BH network adequacy have been prompted by evidence of narrow networks for BH, variation in network adequacy across plans, and evidence that network adequacy impacts access to certain specialties.