Mental Health Association of Rhode Island

The Mental Health Association of Rhode Island's "ri Mental Health parity initiative" has convened a diverse group of state and community stakeholders. The initiative's aim is to hold Health insurers accountable for providing coverage for behavorial Health services equal to coverage for medical services. The stakeholder group met several times over the course of last year to identify and prioritize the most urgent or prevalent barriers to accessing behavorial treatment through insurance. The agency continues to work with the office of the Health insurance commissioner on regulatory changes and the agency sits on the advisory council to the commissioner. The agency conducted behavorial healthprovider surveys to assess the size and diversity of ri's provider pool. The agency launched a new program: bridging the divide: diversity, equity and inclusion in Mental Health. The agency created a diversified equity & inclusion advisory council with diverse stakeholders from the community and state. Mhari provides general advocacy and education activities in the areas of behavorial Health, parity, access to services, and other general activities and tasks which support mhari's various projects and initiatives.