Behavioral Health Constituency Section
Background and Introduction:
The IHA Board in 1991 established the Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Constituency Section to provide a forum for advocacy, representation, communication, and education for members providing behavioral health services. The Section serves as a vehicle to develop recommendations pertaining to behavioral health issues to the IHA Policy and Advocacy Councils and, ultimately, the Board.
It serves as the IHA's "eyes and ears" on behavioral health issues.
Originally called the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Constituency Section, the Section was renamed the Behavioral Health Constituency Section (BHCS) in 1993. Membership in the BHCS is open to all IHA institutional members offering mental health and/or chemical dependency services.
As of January 1, 2008, ninety-one IHA institutional members offer behavioral health services through hospital-based dedicated inpatient units and/or outpatient services.
Eight of these are freestanding psychiatric hospitals.
The BHCS has represented IHA's behavioral health members over the past 17 years on a number of critical payment, legislative and regulatory matters. Through this period, we have recognized not only the changing organizational structures within which our members operate, but also the ever more challenging environment within which they serve their patients.
Benefits and Services:
The services of the Behavioral Health Constituency Section generally include:
- Tracking and reporting on trends of importance to the BHCS through a variety of vehicles including the Behavioral Health Update, IHA
web site, and targeted memos and e-mail.
- Monitoring federal and state regulatory developments.
- Representing membership before key state agencies such as the Department of Human Services, Department of
Health Care and Family Services, and Department of Children and Family Services.
- Reviewing, responding, and acting upon legislation introduced that affects membership.
- Introducing legislation when appropriate.
- Conducting surveys and data collection.
- Providing education and networking opportunities.
- Providing representation to other internal IHA staff and member groups.
Governance:
The Behavioral Health Constituency Section is governed by a Steering Committee of members with expertise in behavioral health and who reflect the breadth and diversity of our member organizations. Steering Committee members are appointed by the
IHA Board for a two-year, renewable term. The Steering Committee meets between
four and six times a year. It establishes annual goals and priorities for the Section's policy and advocacy efforts and advises the IHA on matters of importance to behavioral health
providers and the patients they serve.
Click here to view a listing of the Steering Committee
Members.
Staff Contact: MaryLynn McGuire Clarke:
(217) 541-1154
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