In a unified effort to address the mental health and substance use crisis among youth, Vibrant Emotional Health (Vibrant) has joined 70 organizations to advocate for the inclusion of the bipartisan Kid Providing Resources for Optimal Outcomes Against Fatalities (Kid PROOF) Act in the reauthorization of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act. The Kid PROOF Act would provide grants for states to partner with healthcare providers through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide support to parents when a child is at risk of suicide or overdose. Efforts like these help to strengthen access to mental and behavioral health care by providing an evidence-based approach for youth struggling with suicidal ideation or substance use.

In another effort to further strengthen mental health access, Vibrant joined 66 organizations to provide recommendations to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for compliance with Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) requirements in Medicaid and CHIP. THE MHPAEA, passed in 2008, ensures that insurance companies provide coverage for mental health and substance use disorders at the same rates they do for physical health issues. The recommendations outlined in the coalition letter target the templates and instructional guides developed by CMS to help insurance companies comply with the MHPAEA. The recommendations include aligning the Medicaid MHPAEA regulations with those in private insurance and strengthening enforcement provisions to ensure compliance. Additionally, we recommend amending the templates and guidance documents to more closely align with the MHPAEA statute, regulations, and fundamental purpose. 

By supporting initiatives like the Kid PROOF Act and MHPAEA recommendations, Vibrant continues to champion critical policy changes that improve access to essential mental and behavioral health care for vulnerable populations, paving the way for further advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening mental health support across all communities.