For immediate release: May 15, 2017

Rochester, NY – The Board of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association released
the following statement today in response to the U.S. House of Representatives
passage of the American Health Care Act:

“We urge the U.S. Senate to consider the economic and quality of care impact
of disincentives for payers to cover treatment for mental and physical health
equally. Our national coalition of leaders in the integration of mental and
physical health care services have made substantial progress in the last decade
to reduce costs, improve efficiency and bolster patient outcomes through
integrated care. Disincentives for payers to cover treatment for mental and
physical health equally will impede our efforts to improve the healthcare delivery
system, resulting in the inefficiency and costliness of care which our members
have pledged to change. Considering the impact of legislation on integrated
care efforts is also a way of protecting the investment that the federal
government (HRSA, SAHMSA) has and continues to make through the millions
spent on integration innovation projects in the last decade. We stand ready to
work with members of congress to help align insurance reform with health
system delivery reform and continue to lead the way in integrating mental and
physical health care.”

About the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (cfha.net)
The Collaborative Family Healthcare Association is a member-driven non-profit
organization dedicated to making the integration of mental and physical health the
standard of care nationally. Our interdisciplinary membership of physicians, patients,
clinicians, educators, nurses, behavioral health professionals, foundations, payers,
advocates and researchers work to promote comprehensive and cost-effective models
of healthcare delivery that integrate mind and body, individual and family, patients,
providers and communities.

Media Contact:
Neftali Serrano, PsyD
Executive Director
nserrano@cfha.net
Twitter: @cfha_tweet