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Advancing Health Through System Reform - Template

To help organize the input received the following template was developed.  Feel free to use the template as a guide for the information you or your organization would like to contribute.  To help focus the content please limit your submission to 3 pages.   Send all submissions to healthreform@samhsa.hhs.gov. The information you provide will be used to help inform the development of background papers for use in the national discussion. 

What is the name of your organization?

Provide contact information (name, phone number and email) for potential follow-up questions:

Identify the population(s)/entity(s) your organization serves/represents:

To further shape a common set of principles for communicating about health system reform, how would your organization explain the significance of mental health and substance abuse services (community-based prevention, mental health promotion, early intervention, treatment, recovery support) to the overall success of health system reform?

Looking to the Future -

Imagine that Congress has approved and the President has signed legislation that works toward providing affordable, accessible health care, including mental health and substance abuse services to all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors, and plans. This new system is financed via a mixture of public/private sector funding. It offers improved efficiencies through a focus on accountability for outcomes, cost containment and fiscal responsibility. The new system takes advantage of information technology, preventive care, disease detection and control, and promotes public health.

Given this look into the future -

Describe the benefits package(s) that would best serve the needs of the population(s)/entity(s) your organization serves. For your consideration -

  • What services are provided?
  • Who typically provides the services?
  • Where are the services provided?
  • How does the benefits package help achieve desired outcomes, cost containment and fiscal responsibility?
  • How do population-based public health services help achieve desired outcomes, cost containment and fiscal responsibility?

Describe the new system. How is it structured, coordinated, and financed at the individual, family, community, local, state and federal level to best serve the needs of the population(s)/entity(s) your organization serves. For your consideration -

  • How is service quality and effectiveness measured and reported?
  • How are services improved?
  • What service delivery gaps remain?

Describe the steps and policies that are needed to create the system described.

Last Update: 4/10/2009