A governor is uniquely situated to look across the state and coordinate action among state agencies, communities and stakeholders. Many governors are actively engaged in aligning multiple health delivery system reform efforts with broader population health strategies and exploring economically sustainable models. One focal point of the NGA work with states is in establishing or scaling up cost-effective programs for individuals with complex care needs. Many of those individuals have unmet behavioral health (mental illness and/or substance misuse) and social service needs that are better served in the community and outside of acute care or institutional settings. To that end, NGA is providing states technical assistance around a number of policy priorities in behavioral health including:
- Improving outcomes and reducing cost of care for complex populations
- System-level behavioral health and primary care integration
- Capacity building in rural and underserved areas
- Supportive housing
- Behavioral health in criminal justice involved
NGA Resources
Supporting State Behavioral Health Systems During COVID-19 Response and Recovery
This paper identifies for Governors the key issues that are currently challenging state behavioral health systems, along with actions that state agencies may consider to support and sustain behavioral health ...
Improving Outcomes and Reducing Cost of Care for Complex Care Populations With Behavioral Health and Social Support Needs: Toolkit for Governors
The toolkit features lessons learned from Arizona and Michigan, who served as models for the participating states, and supplements the NGA road map for building complex care programs and the ...
Expanding Access To Non-Opioid Management Of Chronic Pain
This report synthesizes the existing evidence base for non-opioid therapies, examines Medicaid coverage policies, and identifies barriers and opportunities for scaling evidence-based integrated pain management delivery systems. (View/Download) Executive Summary ...
Opioid and COVID-19 Related Resources
(View/Download) Relevant information and guidance for communities confronting opioids in the age of COVID-19 The Intersection of Two Pandemics: Addiction and COVID-19 Webinar The USC Schaeffer Center and the Institute ...
State Strategies to Improve the Use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs to Address Opioid and other Substance Use Disorders
(View/Download) Executive Summary States have implemented many different strategies to address opioid use disorder/substance use disorders (OUD/SUD) and promote safe prescribing practices. One of these strategies is maintaining prescription drug ...
State Strategies to Support Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services through the COVID-19 Pandemic
(View/Download) New Challenges Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many governors were looking for ways to strengthen substance use disorder (SUD) provider capacity as part of their comprehensive response to the ...
Public Health
As the chief executive officers of their States, Governors oversee public health departments and initiatives across multiple agencies aimed at improving health at the population level. The NGA Center’s Health ...
The Governor’s Guide to Public Health Preparedness
(View/Download) Executive Summary Beginning on their first day in office, governors must prepare for emergencies of all types and, along with providing for the public’s safety, governors must also think ...
NGA Health to Assist 5 States on Addressing Infectious Diseases Related to Substance Use
The National Governors Association Health Division (NGA Health) will be working with five states -- Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Nevada and Tennessee -- on a learning lab highlighting best practices around ...
State Leaders Convene for Strategies on Drug Treatment and Recovery for Justice-Involved Populations
National Governors Association Workshops in Ohio and Louisiana Spotlight Medication Assisted Treatment in Criminal Justice System The National Governors Association (NGA) brought together nine states in Cleveland, Ohio, and New ...
