WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) today signed the National Behavioral Health Quality and Best Practices Pledge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), joining organizations across the behavioral health community in a shared commitment to delivering quality mental health and substance use disorder care.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) coordinated the pledge-signing event, which was held as part of a convening hosted by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. ABHW signed the Pledge alongside many other organizations committed to improving behavioral health care, including ABHW members and partners.
The Pledge represents a voluntary commitment to treating addiction as a chronic disease and advancing evidence-based, patient-centered clinical pathways for behavioral health care. Signers commit to advancing best practices that support:
- Timely access to high-quality mental health and addiction treatment
- Evidence-based assessment, diagnosis, treatment, referral, and recovery support
- Measurement of quality, outcomes, accountability, and continuous improvement
- Patient-centered, recovery-focused care that supports long-term wellness
- Clinical expertise and individualized treatment decisions based on patient needs and the best available evidence
- Whole-person care that addresses chronic physical conditions, including HIV and hepatitis C, alongside behavioral health treatment
“Improving access to behavioral health care is essential, but access must be accompanied by an equally strong commitment to quality,” said Debbie Witchey, MHA, President and CEO of ABHW. “People deserve care that is grounded in evidence, responsive to their individual needs, and measured by whether it helps them get better. This Pledge creates an important opportunity for health plans, providers, advocates, and policymakers to work together on the outcomes that matter most to patients and families.”
HHS emphasizes that the Pledge is a voluntary commitment; it is not a minimum standard of care, federal mandate, or replacement for clinical judgment of qualified health care professionals.
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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 who care for approximately 200 million people. Together, we work to reduce stigma and advance federal policy on mental health and substance use disorder care. ABHW member companies include Aetna Behavioral Health, Elevance Health, Centene Corporation, Evernorth, a Cigna company, Health Care Service Corporation, 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 and LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jennifer Salopek
Salopek@abhw.org
703-909-9059
