AABH Public Policy Chairs

	Christopher McGowan, MPS, ATR Akron General Medical Center, Akron, OH Phone: 330-344-1559 Fax: 330-996-5802 Email: chris@aabh.org Term: February 2001 - August 2007
	JoAnne Mandel, LMSW, CNS, RN InnnerWisdom, Inc., Houston, TX Phone: 713-592-9292 Fax: 713-839-8052 Email: joanne@aabh.org Term: February 2001 - August 2007

Advocacy National Initiatives

Today, the only certainty in behavioral healthcare services is change. Fundamental changes. At the national level initiatives are brewing which impact mental health providers and managers and most importantly, the people under our care.

AABH works with the Mental Health Liaison Group to actively support passage of a variety of legislation on Mental Health issues.

AABH is Working for You in Washington

On behalf of our members, AABH supports passage of legislation on a wide range of mental health issues. Few, if any AABH members have the time and energy needed to sort through all the legislation, locate and read the mental health related legislative initiatives, and write letters of support. AABH does that for you! If you are interested in finding out what legislation has been supported by AABH on your behalf, periodically check this page for updates.

The AABH Advocacy Approach

Moving Forward Through Dialogue and Collaboration

AABH sees advocacy as dialogue — the productive exchange of ideas and perspectives. Dialogue can be advanced in many settings. Dialogue takes place between AABH members and policymakers or other groups, as we work to promote policies that maintain and enhance the quality and accessibility of behavioral healthcare services.

It is this kind of dialogue that has helped us move forward in the area of Medicare Policy. AABH has established a track record of working effectively with its affiliate organizations and Medicare fiscal intermediaries to break down barriers and misunderstandings concerning the Medicare Partial Hospitalization Program.

Dialogue can also can take place within our membership as we exchange ideas and experiences that inform our individual advocacy efforts. On an ongoing basis, AABH promotes the value of ambulatory care to state officials and managed care organizations (MCOs). Collaborative work with sibling organizations is another key part of AABH’s advocacy strategy.

So please join us as we work together to advocate for the services we believe in and the clients who need them!