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Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP)

The Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP) focuses on policies and programs that support the independence, productivity, health and well-being, and long-term care needs of people with disabilities, older adults, and people with mental and substance use disorders.

Note: BHDAP was previously known as the Office of Disability, Aging, and Long-Term Care Policy (DALTCP). Only our office name has changed, not our mission, portfolio, or policy focus.

The Division of Behavioral Health Policy is responsible for the analysis, coordination, research and evaluation of policies related to mental and substance use disorders, also referred to as behavioral health. The division is the focal point for policy development and analysis related to the financing, access/delivery, organization, and quality of services for people with mental and substance use disorders, including those supported or financed by Medicaid, Medicare, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

The Division of Long-Term Services and Supports is responsible for the analysis, coordination, and research and evaluation of policies related to institutional and community-based long-term care and supportive services, including formal and informal caregiving. The Division is the focal point for policy development and analysis related to the financing, delivery, organization, and quality of long-term care services and supports, including those supported or financed by private insurers, Medicaid, Medicare, and the Administration for Community Living (ACL).

The Division of Disability and Aging Policy is responsible for policy and data development, coordination, research and evaluation of policies and programs focused on the functioning and well-being of persons with disabilities and older adults. The Division is the focal point for crosscutting disability and aging collaboration within the Department and across other federal agencies. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and intellectual and developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder, are notable areas of engagement and expertise.

Helpful Information:

Reports

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ASPE Issue Brief

Use of Contract Staff in Nursing Homes Remains High After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Over one million Americans rely on nursing homes for care, yet nursing homes face challenges in recruiting and retaining staff. Nursing homes rely on registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and nursing assistants (NAs) to provide care, but staff shortages that increased during the COVID-19 pandemic have persisted.
ASPE Issue Brief

Behavioral Health Service Use Among Medicaid and CHIP Enrollees Before/During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

In 2020, 53 million adults in the United States had a mental health condition and 40 million people ages 12 and older had a substance use disorder (SUD). The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) exacerbated mental health conditions and SUDs at a time when access to in-person care was restricted due to safety concerns.
Report

Assessing the Feasibility of Creating a National Behavioral Health Workforce Database

The U.S. behavioral health (BH) workforce faces significant shortages and distribution disparities, hindering access to quality care and worsening health outcomes. A comprehensive, centralized database of BH providers is vital for advancing patient-centered outcomes research (PCOR), comparative effectiveness research (CER), and evidence-based policymaking.
ASPE Issue Brief

Operationalizing the Definition of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Administrative Claims Data for Research

The existence of multiple operational definitions for intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/DD) in analyzing administrative claims data for health services and public health research limits translation of study findings to inform policies, programs, and practice.
ASPE Issue Brief

Treatment for Children and Adolescents Enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP During COVID-19

The first brief below provides insight into children’s and adolescents’ mental health service use in Medicaid and CHIP during the pandemic, by using a national Medicaid claims database.
ASPE Issue Brief

Medicaid Behavioral Health Providers Delivering Most Behavioral Health Services via Telehealth Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Issue Brief

The goal of this study was to examine the extent to which Medicaid providers who deliver behavioral health services shifted their practices to mostly tele-behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Report

New Jersey Home Care Workforce Case Study: Final Report

This New Jersey case study provides insights into the daunting challenges states face in seeking to address the home care worker shortage, which has become more acute as New Jersey and other states have striven to “re-balance” Medicaid long-term services and supports use and spending away from institutional care toward home and community-based services.
ASPE Issue Brief, Report

Direct Care Worker Wages

Direct care workers (DCWs) such as nursing assistants, home health aides, and personal care assistants play an essential role in the health and well-being of over 20 million Americans. Yet DCW wages are not enough to make jobs competitive with entry level positions in other industries with similar job requirements which exacerbates the challenges in recruitment and retention of these workers.
ASPE Issue Brief

Bridging Healthcare and Social Services for People Living with Dementia and Their Caregivers

People living with dementia often have complex health and social support needs that can best be met by health care and community-based providers working together. This brief examines promising practices for bridging community-based organizations and health care systems in the providing comprehensive dementia care.
Report

Reentry and Housing Stability: Final Report

Individuals returning to the community from prisons and jails face numerous barriers to reentry, and securing safe, stable housing is often the most immediate challenge. Housing is a vital element of successful reentry.