To influence policy, you need to go where the money is. Billions of mental health service dollars come from Medicaid. Therefore, for consumers to influence mental health policy it is important that we understand the major changes happening today in the administration of Medicaid mental health benefits. These changes are evolving quickly. States are not generally reaching out to consumers.
Exceptions are Maryland and New York.
In Maryland, the legislature has required the state to include consumers in the planning of the state's waiver. In New York, the Office of Mental Health has organizied a collaborative task force, chaired by a consumer, to plan the development of Medicaid managed care. In order to educate consumers as quickly as possible about managed care, consumer groups, which have had difficulty working together in the past, are recognizing the need to collaborate. In states that are just getting a waiver from HCFA, influence the form of that waiver. After the waiver has been obtained, play a role in deciding how the state will manage its Medicaid program.