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Behavioral Health Association of Nevada outlines statewide policy push, cites Medicaid rate gains
Summary
Steve Schell of the Behavioral Health Association of Nevada told the Washoe County Children’s Mental Health Consortium on March 19 that BEHAN has formed a statewide coalition, will issue a short policy roadmap this summer and is prioritizing Medicaid reimbursement increases, parity enforcement, clinician well‑being and crisis response funding.
Steve Schell of the Behavioral Health Association of Nevada told the Washoe County Children’s Mental Health Consortium on March 19 that his newly formed statewide organization aims to coordinate behavioral‑health providers, advocates and allies and press policy changes before the 2027 legislative session.
Schell described BEHAN’s origin and activities, including a 2023 planning committee, regional meetings, a Molina Healthcare grant to join the National Council for Mental Well‑Being and a city of Reno opioid education grant. "I established BEHAN as a 501(c)(3) back in 2023," Schell said, describing statewide outreach and partnerships.
Why it matters: Schell said the group will produce a short policy roadmap early this summer to focus priorities for the next legislative session and to help members align advocacy. He highlighted recent Medicaid rate increases and said additional policy changes are needed to sustain services and address workforce shortages.
Key points Schell raised included long‑running low Medicaid reimbursement rates, mental‑health parity concerns, payer credentialing problems for specialty providers, clinician burnout and funding for the crisis response system. "Some of our Medicaid rates have not been changed in the last 13 to 15 years," Schell said, adding he was encouraged by recent rate increases but that more work remains. On parity, he said a recent report identified about 16 payers not following parity requirements.
Schell also called attention to the state’s 35¢ monthly cellphone surcharge that he said yields roughly $14 million a year for crisis response and that lawmakers may consider raising the surcharge to expand services. He described BEHAN’s work on clinician well‑being, peer support expansion, data collection efforts with UNLV and UNR, interstate licensure compacts and school‑based mental health reimbursement as other priorities.
BEHAN aims to use monthly policy forums and regional events to build statewide consensus and provide tools for local partners. Schell invited consortium members to participate and said BEHAN maintains a statewide listserv of about 800 subscribers. The organization plans to share a brief policy roadmap with legislators ahead of the 2027 session.
The presentation closed with an offer for follow‑up: Schell offered his email and the BEHAN listserv for members who want resources or to raise policy ideas.
