Expanding Access

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Behavioral health was left out of the digital revolution in healthcare; now a $20 million federal initiative is changing that story.

In this episode, Talisha Searcy, Senior Advisor within the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, and Kacie Kelly, Chief Innovation Officer at the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, discuss the Behavioral Health Information Technology Initiative. Talisha explained that BHIT is a $20 million partnership between ASTP and SAMHSA focused on standardizing behavioral health data, advancing EHR adoption, and improving integration with physical health. Kacie highlighted that behavioral health was left out of the HITECH Act, creating long-standing gaps in infrastructure, funding, and data standards that BHIT now aims to address. Talisha emphasized the importance of interoperability and the USCDI+ for behavioral health, with pilots testing real-world data exchange and toolkits to help providers adopt these standards. Both emphasized the importance of collaboration across federal agencies to ensure alignment, as well as opportunities for innovators and the private sector to engage in shaping policies, particularly in areas such as interoperability and AI. Locally, Talisha noted how technology like telehealth is already improving access and care coordination in communities, despite workforce shortages.

Tune in to hear from national leaders on how BHIT is setting new standards, driving innovation, and opening doors for providers and innovators in the behavioral health field!

Resources:

Connect with and follow Talisha Searcy on LinkedIn.

Follow the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy on LinkedIn and visit their website. 

Connect with and follow Kacie Kelly on LinkedIn.

Follow the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute on LinkedIn and visit their website.

Learn more about the HeadsUp service here.

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

The strongest organizations aren’t just scaling services; they’re scaling leadership.

In this episode, Stacy DiStefano, CEO and founder of Consulting For Human Services, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities facing nonprofit behavioral health organizations. She explains how her team supports providers with strategic planning, growth strategies, technology adoption, and mergers & acquisitions (M&A) to ensure sustainability, while highlighting why boutique consultancies often deliver more value than large firms through lived experience and community ties. Stacy also explores the real issues keeping leaders up at night, from immigration policies impacting workforce stability to uncertainty in federal priorities and the accelerating wave of nonprofit consolidations, while outlining common pitfalls in M&A such as ego, resistance, and board misalignment. Looking ahead, she stresses the need for CEOs to educate boards, prepare the next generation of leaders, integrate technology across organizations, and embrace disruption as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Tune in and learn how nonprofit leaders can future-proof their organizations through resilience, growth, and mission-driven strategy!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

The pain of youth must always be seen alongside its power.

In this episode, Rich Havard, Director of the Decolonizing Wealth Project’s Youth Mental Health Fund, shares his journey from a closeted gay kid in rural Mississippi to leading a $20 million initiative supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ youth. He reflects on formative church experiences, both healing and harmful, that shaped his commitment to creating inclusive spaces, as well as his years as a pastor witnessing the struggles and resilience of young people. Rich underscores the urgent need for philanthropy to fund culturally responsive care and elevate youth voices as true decision-makers shaping solutions. Ultimately, he reframes youth mental health as an issue of both justice and connection.

Tune in and learn how integrating culture, storytelling, and justice can transform youth mental healthcare!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Having the right tools in place the first time can make all the difference for patients and families navigating behavioral health.

In this episode, Janelle Bierdeman, a nationally certified school psychologist and the Manager of the Healthcare Solutions Group at MHS (Multi-Health Systems), shares her journey from direct care with children and families to driving systems-level transformation in behavioral health. She reflects on the risks of poor assessments, outdated systems, and the importance of rigorous tools to ensure providers deliver the right care from the start. Drawing on her perspective as both a professional and a parent of neurodivergent children, Janelle emphasizes the need for tailored assessments, clinician involvement in digital tools, and cross-cultural insights from North America and Europe. She also highlights a UK success story scaling patient assessments from 25 to 2,500 per month, and sees AI as a powerful way to reduce administrative burdens and free providers to spend more time with patients.

Tune in and learn how technology, when done right, can truly expand access to quality behavioral health care!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Far too many women veterans are overlooked, leading to gaps in care, resources, and recognition.

In this episode brought to you by Luminary Labs, Wanda Wright, Director of the Office for Veteran and Military Academic Engagement at Arizona State University, shares her mission to advocate for women veterans and improve access to resources. She explains that many women do not recognize themselves as veterans, which, combined with cultural bias and lack of awareness, leads to higher rates of suicide and homelessness compared to men. Director Wright highlights the importance of asking “Have you served?” in healthcare settings and stresses that collaboration among the VA, state agencies, nonprofits, and local groups is essential to provide effective support, especially in rural areas. While progress has been made with more women joining the military and rising to leadership, she emphasizes that continued advocacy and community involvement are crucial to breaking down barriers and saving lives.

Tune in as Wanda Wright shares her powerful journey and insights on breaking barriers, advocating for women veterans, and building stronger systems of support!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Strong science isn’t just a checkbox; it’s a growth strategy that can set digital health startups apart in crowded markets.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Huberty, CEO & founder of Fit Minded, explores how behavioral health companies at any stage can build scientific credibility without depleting their resources. She stresses that many startups fail to recognize the value of the data they already possess: data that can drive business decisions, fuel marketing narratives, and even lead to peer-reviewed publications. Jennifer walks through cost-effective research strategies, such as retrospective analyses and national surveys, while cautioning against fragmented, one-off studies that lack strategic alignment. She also introduces the idea of “traveling science,” a framework for making research actionable across departments, and emphasizes that trust, transparency, and clear alignment with business goals are essential for impactful, lasting research partnerships.

Tune in and learn how to leverage research not just for credibility, but for growth, clarity, and competitive advantage in the behavioral health tech landscape!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

The caregiving crisis in America is not just personal; it’s systemic, invisible, and urgently needs redesign.

In this episode, Paurvi Bhatt, public health expert and founder of ThirdEyeFocus, explores the complex intersections between caregiving, healthcare systems, cultural identity, and systemic equity. Reflecting on her experience as a first-generation Indian-American and longtime caregiver, she reveals how immigrant backgrounds shape both personal and professional choices, and how informal caregiving functions as an invisible backbone of healthcare. Paurvi critiques the gap between healthcare innovation and its practical use at home, highlighting the emotional isolation caregivers face and the lack of support and reimbursement for their work. She calls for moving beyond vague notions of “impact” by demanding measurable results and urges leaders to resist technology-driven detachment in favor of genuine human connection.

Tune in and learn how we must reimagine care, connection, and accountability, starting not from systems, but from the human stories we’re ignoring!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

A key takeaway from this interview is that the most effective path to value-based care starts with building trust, proving outcomes, and aligning your pitch with what payers already prioritize.

In this episode, David Ricupero,  Director of Business Development at Affect Therapeutics and Creator of the Out-of-Pocket Course: How to Contract with Payors, explains the full journey of payer contracting, from initial applications to advanced value-based agreements. He covers how to join payer networks, manage closed systems, and prepare key documents and timelines. David explores various value-based care models, illustrating how risk and complexity grow from pay-for-performance to full capitation, and highlights the importance of combining traditional applications with strategic conversations. He also offers practical tips for avoiding “payer purgatory,” identifying payer goals, and asking the right questions during shared savings negotiations.

Tune in and learn how to navigate the nuances of payer-provider relationships and set up sustainable, rewarding contracts that truly expand access to care!

Resources:

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Addiction recovery is not a solitary journey, and support from peers can make all the difference.

In this episode, Matthew Serel, CEO of You Are Accountable, Inc., shares his journey from addiction to long-term recovery and how it inspired him to build a platform offering peer support, toxicology monitoring, and care coordination. He highlights critical gaps in the recovery process, such as fragmented care and poor communication among providers. Matthew emphasizes the power of peer support rooted in lived experience, which helps individuals overcome shame and stay engaged in their recovery. He also discusses the need for collaboration across providers, payers, and peers, and how technology can enhance, not replace, human connection in addiction recovery.

Tune in and learn how peer support and a balanced use of technology can reshape the future of addiction care!

Resources:

Connect with and follow Matthew Serel on LinkedIn.

Email Matthew Serel here. 

Follow You Are Accountable, Inc. on LinkedIn and explore their website.

Thanks for tuning into the expanding access podcast. Ready to take your knowledge, network, and experience to the next level? Then join us at the BHT Conference in San Diego on November 11-13. Join thought leaders, practitioners, policymakers, and payers focused on expanding access and improving outcomes in mental health, behavioral health, substance abuse, and IDD.
Save $100 on your registration ⁠here ⁠by using your podcast promo code “Podcast100”

Investing in care infrastructure and mental health access is not just compassionate, it's foundational to long-term systemic change.

In this episode, Brittney Riley Gavini, the Director of Investments at Pivotal Ventures, discusses how targeted investment strategies are unlocking real progress in youth mental health, family care, and women’s empowerment. She explains how her career evolved from startups to mission-driven venture capital, and how her team supports both philanthropic and for-profit initiatives that close care gaps. Brittney highlights investments in innovative companies and shares the importance of funding diverse founders and fund managers to reshape the innovation pipeline, especially in mental health and financial access. She also acknowledges challenges in youth mental health startups like provider shortages and complex engagement pathways. Lastly, Brittney offers advice for startups pitching investors: make it a meaningful, generative conversation, not just a transaction.

Tune in and learn how mission-aligned investing is reshaping behavioral health, one bold bet at a time!

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