Please join us virtually on Thursday Feb. 20, 2025, at 1:00pm-3:00pm Eastern Time as Mental Health America’s Regional Policy Council as it presents its 2025 Governor’s Leadership Award to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker as part of its winter policy meeting Mental Health Care Can’t be Denied.
Following the award presentation national experts will offer insights into mental health access challenges and advocacy opportunities. Featured presentation topics include expanding the mental health workforce, the future of Medicaid, parity laws, and crisis services.
Tentative Agenda
1 – 1:05 p.m.
Welcome and housekeeping
- Debbie Plotnick, EVP State and Federal Advocacy, Mental Health America
1:05 – 1:20 p.m.
Governors award
- Honoring Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
- Presented by Mark Heyrman, Board Member & Chair of the Public Policy Committee at Mental Health America Illinois
1:20 – 1:40 p.m.
Medicaid Multipliers: What’s in store for 2025?
- Allie Gardner, Research Fellow Center for Children and Families Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy
1:40-2 p.m.
Parity in 2025
- Barb Johnston, Director of Advocacy and Policy for the Mental Health Association in New Jersey
- Tim Clement, Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at Mental Health America
2 – 2:20 p.m.
Cover My Mental Health
- Joe Feldman, Founder and President Cover My Mental Health
2:20 – 2:40 p.m.
Expanding workforce in the states
- Commissioner Marie Williams & Deputy Commissioner Matt Yancy, Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
2:40 – 3 p.m.
Access to crisis services
- Shelley Polanco, Director of State Policy, Vibrant Emotional Health
