Washington, D.C. – February 23, 2026 — The 2026 Policy Summit hosted by the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) is almost here. After a purposeful pause, the Summit has been thoughtfully redesigned to better reflect what today’s behavioral health leaders need most: timely conversations, actionable insights, and real impact.
Join policy experts, government officials, health plan executives, and industry leaders on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at the Barbara Jordan Conference Center, 1330 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20005. Learn more and register: abhw.org/summit
A Catalyst for Change
The ABHW Policy Summit convenes Behavioral Health Plan Executives, Policymakers, Health Advocacy Organizations, Consultants, Researchers, and Academics to explore the initiatives and forces shaping the future of behavioral health care. More than a conference, the Summit is a catalyst for meaningful progress, bringing together influential voices from across the health care ecosystem to drive innovation, integration, and policy advancement.
Attendees will:
- Engage in dynamic discussions on today’s most pressing behavioral health challenges
- Discover innovative strategies to improve access and quality
- Build partnerships that foster measurable impact
- Gain insights to help lead the next chapter of behavioral health policy
ABHW envisions a nation in which everyone has access to timely, quality, and appropriate behavioral health care from wellness and prevention to treatment and recovery, where barriers and stigma are eliminated, behavioral health has equal standing with physical health in national policy, and care is fully integrated and coordinated.
Featured Speaker Highlight
Former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy will participate in a featured fireside chat. A nationally recognized champion for mental health and addiction policy, Kennedy is a leading voice on:
- Addressing and enforcing mental health parity
- Accelerating innovation in diagnostics and treatment
- Integrating behavioral health into the mainstream health care system
He is the founder of The Kennedy Forum and co-founder of One Mind, organizations dedicated to advancing research, accountability, and improved care for brain health and substance use disorders.
Why Attend?
The ABHW Policy Summit convenes policymakers, behavioral health plan executives, advocacy organizations, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the forces shaping the future of behavioral health. Attendees gain direct access to influential decision-makers and practical strategies to advance whole-person care.
Register today at abhw.org/summit.
ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS
ABHW is the leading health plan association working to improve access and quality of care for mental health and substance use disorders. ABHW’s members include national and regional health plans that care for 200 million people. Together, we work to reduce stigma and advance federal policy on mental health and substance use disorder care. ABHW member companies – Aetna, a CVS Health Company; CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Carelon Behavioral Health, an Elevance Health Company; Centene Corporation; Evernorth; Kaiser Permanente; Lucet; Magellan Health; Molina Healthcare; Optum; and PerformCare, a subsidiary of AmeriHealth Caritas. To learn more, visit www.abhw.org and follow us on BlueSky, LinkedIn, and X.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Angela Lee
Lee@abhw.org
703-999-5170
