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Date:  September 22, 1995
For Release:  Immediately
Contact: Craig Packer, 301-443-4765
         Prabhu Ponkshe, 301-468-6555

The conference, sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), will bring federal, state and other health care officials together -- many for the first time -- to examine the quality and cost effectiveness of mental health and substance abuse services in a rapidly evolving managed health care environment.

"Changes taking place in our country's health care system afford us the opportunity to better meet the needs of millions of Americans with mental and addictive disorders," Mrs. Gore said. "We know that providing comprehensive, quality mental health and substance abuse services helps prevent homelessness and incarceration, and leads to self-sufficiency and long-term cost savings."

Vice President Al Gore is scheduled to be the luncheon speaker Sept. 27, and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Donna E. Shalala is scheduled to deliver the luncheon address the following day. Other speakers include Philip R. Lee, M.D., assistant secretary for health; Bruce C. Vladeck, Ph.D., administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration; and Nelba Chavez, Ph.D., administrator of SAMHSA.

"An estimated 52 million Americans experience mental health and substance abuse problems annually, costing the nation $3 billion in health care costs each year," said Secretary Shalala. "Our goal is to promote quality, cost effective prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services for people with mental illness and substance abuse disorders in public and private health care systems," she added.

Rapid fundamental changes are occurring in financing, organizing and delivering state mental health and substance abuse services. More than one-half of all states are using, or planning to use, Medicaid waivers to shift public health care to managed care financing and delivery systems. In most cases, treatment for these disorders will be included in the managed care arrangements. States face significant challenges in managing these changing systems.

"The conference, the first of its kind, will bring together federal, state and mental health, substance abuse and Medicaid officials; health care providers; private managed care companies; health care advocates; and consumers and their families, to foster networking and information sharing," Lee said.

"SAMHSA is committed to ensuring that quality services for people with mental illnesses and addictions are available in managed care systems," according to Chavez. "Managed care companies should encourage consumer, families and providers to participate in health care delivery and evaluation. That is the best insurance for quality care," she added.

Conference participants will attend workshops on effective service delivery techniques; accountability; consumer and family involvement; public managed care mental health and substance abuse prevention programs; privatization and children's services.

An Information and Technology Fair will offer participants a wide variety of mental health and substance abuse resources to expand access, improve quality and reduce costs of services and delivery. Resources will include both traditional technical assistance materials and more innovative approaches such as statewide comprehensive information systems, World Wide Web sites, electronic databases, distance learning and telepsychiatry demonstrations.

SAMHSA, the federal government's lead agency for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services, is one of eight U. S. Public Health Service agencies in HHS.