2020-21 NABHO Annual Report

Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations
ANNUAL
REPORT
2020 - 2021
w w w . n a b h o . o r g

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
03
NABHO MEMBERS
04/05
COMMITTEES & STAFF
06
LETTER FROM
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
07
MISSION & VALUES
08
EVENTS
09
ALLIANCES
PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM
10/11
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
12
CONNIE BARNES
MEMORIAL MENTORSHIP
PROGRAM
13
FINANCE REPORT
14
NABHO OFFICE
15
WE ARE NABHO
16
CONTACT

MEMBERS
ARCH, Inc.
Behavioral Health Education Center
of Nebraska
Behavioral Health Specialists, Inc.
Behavioral Health Support
Foundation
Blue Valley Behavioral Health
Boys Town
The Bridge Behavioral Health
The Bridge, Inc.
Bryan Health
Catholic Charities
CenterPointe
CHI Health
Child Saving Institute
Children’s Hospital
Community Alliance
Counseling and Enrichment
Douglas County Community Mental
Health Center
Faith Regional Health Services
Fillmore County Hospital
The Friendship House
Goodwill Industries of Greater
Nebraska
Heartland Family Service
Hope Spoke
Houses of Hope
The Kim Foundation
Liberty Centre Services
The Link Halfway House
Live Well Counseling
Lutheran Family Services
Mary Lanning Memorial Hospital
Mental Health Association of
Nebraska
Mid-Plains Center for Behavioral
Healthcare Services
Nebraska Counseling Association
Nebraska Psychiatric Society
NOVA Treatment Community
Omaha Home for Boys
Project Harmony
Region 1 Behavioral Health Authority
Region 3 Behavioral Health Services
Region 4 Behavioral Health System
Region V Systems
Region 6 Behavioral Healthcare
The Salvation Army
Santa Monica House
Siena Francis House
South Central Behavioral Health
Services
St. Monica’s
The Wellbeing Initiative
Women’s Empowering Life Line
Incoming Members:
Wholeness Healing Center
Methodist
Northpoint Recovery
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Committees & Staff
Executive Committee
Brenda Mueller, Bryan Independence Center,
President (Apr 2021 - Present)
Chase Francl, Goodwill of Greater Nebraska,
President (Jul 2020 – Mar 2021)
Julia Hebenstreit, The Kim Foundation,
Past-President
Brenda Mueller, Bryan Independence Center,
President - Elect (Jul 2020 – Mar 2021)
Katie McLeese Stephenson, Hope Spoke,
President - Elect (Apr 2021 – Present)
Dave Miers, Bryan Health
Vice President of Acute Care
Dennis Vollmer, Boys Town National Research
Hospital, Vice President of Children’s Services
Heather Bird, Heartland Family Service,
Vice President of Adult Services
(Jan 2021 – Present)
Marilyn Rhoten, CHI Health,
Vice President of Adult Services
(Jul 2020 – Dec 2020)
Sadie Thompson, Wellbeing Initiative,
Vice President of Consumer Services
Nicole Kauk, Nebraska Counseling Association,
Secretary
Bob Shueey, South Central Behavioral Services,
Treasurer
Heather Kirk, Santa Monica, Inc.,
Mentee
Natalya Young, St. Monica’s,
Mentee
Conference Planning
Committee
Beth Baxter, Region 3 Behavioral Health Services
Brenda Mueller, Bryan Independence Center
Danielle Smith, The Wellbeing Initiative
Deb Anderson-Pappas, Project Harmony
Julia Hebenstreit, The Kim Foundation
Sadie Thompson, The Wellbeing Initiative
Finance Committee
Beth Ann Brooks, Nebraska Psychiatric Society
Bob Shueey, South Central Behavioral Services
Brenda Mueller, Bryan Independence Center
(Apr 2021 - Jun 2021)
Chase Francl, Goodwill of Greater Nebraska
(Jul 2020 - Mar 2021)
Heather Kirk, Santa Monica, Inc.
Mike Vance, Children’s Hospital
Topher Hansen, CenterPointe
Membership Committee
Brenda Mueller, Bryan Independence Center
Jay Conrad, Houses of Hope
Mary Barry-Magsamen, St. Monica’s
Topher Hansen, CenterPointe
04

Committees & Staff
Legislative & Regulatory Review Committee
Pat Connell, Boys Town National Research
Hospital Chair
Alicia Kuester, Faith Regional Health Services
(Jul 2020 - Dec 2020)
Brenda Mueller, Bryan Independence Center
CJ Johnson, Region 5 Systems
Dave Miers, Bryan Health
Stephanie Knight, Fillmore County Hospital
Dennis Vollmer, Boys Town National Research
Hospital
Katie McLeese Stephenson, HopeSpoke
Marilyn Rhoten, CHI Health (Jul 2020 – Dec
2020)
Robin Conyers, CHI Health (Jan 2021 – Jun 2021)
Stacy Martin, Lutheran Family Services
(Jul 2020 – Apr 2021)
Managed Care Committee
Topher Hansen, CenterPointe
Brenda Mueller, Bryan Independence Center
Heather Bird, Heartland Family Service
Marilyn Rhoten, CHI Health
(Jul 2020 – Dec 2020)
Katie McLeese Stephenson, HopeSpoke
Stacy Martin, Lutheran Family Services,
(Jul 2020 - Apr 2021)
Stephanie Knight, Fillmore County Hospital
NABHO Staff
Annette Dubas, NABHO Executive Director
Anne Hajek, NABHO Administrative Assistant
Halley Horne, NABHO Communications
Assistant
Julie Erickson, American Communications Group,
NABHO Lobbyist
05

Dear Friends,
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
In February of 1983, The Nebraska Association of Community Mental Health
Centers filed Articles of Incorporation with the State of Nebraska. Their stated
purpose was: “To establish, initiate and perform those activities which will
promote the strength and quality of community-based mental health services
through the state; to educate the public regarding mental health service needs and
community-based mental health services in Nebraska.” In July of 1997, the Board
of Directors adopted a resolution and changed the name to the Nebraska
Association of Behavioral Health Organizations and still maintain a similar mission
to “build a strong alliances to ensure quality behavioral health services, including
substance use and mental health services are accessible to everyone in our state.”
Our Association operates with integrity and professionalism to earn the
respect of policy makers and other stakeholders in the health care arena. Our
advocacy efforts have successfully influenced policy in multiple areas, including
behavioral health funding, parity, telehealth, and managed care contracts.
To say that 2020 was a year that will go down in history is an
understatement. The effects of a world-wide pandemic have turned all of our lives
upside down. But, as with most first responders and front-line healthcare workers,
while everyone else may have been running from the emergency, NABHO members
stayed the course. We worked hard to keep staff and clients safe, quickly
adapting to new technologies to deliver services via telehealth and ensure that
clients’ treatment plans went uninterrupted. We kept advocating for a strong
behavioral health system of careand secured needed provider rate increases. The
challenges we face continue into 2021, yet our Association hasn’t missed a beat.
NABHO members stayed focused on our mission to provide behavioral health care
and support for staff and consumers. We elevated our presence during the most
recent legislative session and found opportunities to communicate with senators
and staff, even with the added complications of social distancing.
We are pleased to bring you this annual report, which allows us to highlight
and promote our achievements. Without our members, NABHO would be
nothing but another acronym. Our members and the people they employ give life
and breath to the organization and put tangible meaning behind each of those
letters. The Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations looks
forward to many more years of advocacy on behalf of behavioral health staff, their
clients, and the overall system of care.
Sincerely,
Annette Dubas
NABHO Executive Director
06

About Us
Since its establishment in 1983, The Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations
(NABHO) has grown into an organization that responds to the ever-changing needs of the
behavioral health community and its consumers. We strive to educate the public and policy
makers to remove the stigma associated with mental illness and substance use disorders.
NABHO works hard to be a trusted voice, relentlessly advocating on behalf of both providers
and consumers.
core VALUES
Expertise
Advocacy
Alliances
Integrity
Quality
Mission
NABHO exists to build strong alliances which ensure
quality behavioral health services, including
substance use and mental health services, are
available to everyone in our state.
Vision
Our vision is for quality substance use and mental
health services to become a central part of accessible
healthcare in our state.
NABHO Members Represent...
49 Member Organizations that serve
consumers state-wide
2,500+ Employees, including more
than 1,200 providers
07

EVENTS
September 18, 2020
BHECN & MHTTC
WORKSHOP
MENTAL HEALTH
AWARENESS MONTH
INTERVIEWS
The workshop included information on the core
features of integrated care, including business
models of integrated practice and how to utilize
value-based care models. The interactive format
offered behavioral health providers the
opportunity to discuss how they might establish
integrated practices using one of the various
business models. It also included information on
the training and technical assistance resources
offered to behavioral health providers on
integrated primary care through the Mid-America
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center.
HopeSpoke
https://bit.ly/hopespoke
For more information, visit https://bit.ly/3wKhbZV.
NABHO AWARDS
CEREMONY
NABHO streamed the annual awards ceremony
live on Facebook. It is also available on our
website.
2020 Citizens of the Year
Todd Duncan, Chief Deputy, Lancaster County Sheriff’s
Office, Nebraska Educational Television
St. Monica’s
https://bit.ly/smonicas
2020 Professionals of the Year
Margaret (Peg) Reit, RTC Administrator, Boys Town
Behavioral Health (posthumous)
Marilyn Rhoten, Vice President, CHI Health Behavioral
Services
2020 Legislator of the Year
Senator Lynne Walz
2020 President’s Award
Barb Hoff
Wellbeing Initiative
https://bit.ly/winitiative
* Due to Covid delays we have extended the MTM Cost-Finding Study, so the complete report will be available later in 2021.
08

ALLIANCES PARTNERSHIP
PROGRAM
Benefits:
» Company logo on the NABHO
Alliances webpage with a short
blurb/testimonial and link to the
company’s website
» Use of NABHO Alliances logo on the
company’s website
» Company logo included in NABHO
weekly member report
» Invited to submit a report to be
distributed to members annually
» Receives list of NABHO Key Contacts
with email addresses for at least one
contact at each NABHO member
organization
» 2 annual meetings with the Executive
Committee
» 2 annual meetings with NABHO
Membership
Conference-Related Benefits:
» Five-minute time slot to speak and
introduce a general session presenter
» Five conference registrations
» Table space including drape, chairs and
free wifi
» Full-page ad in the conference program
» Company logo on NABHO Conference
webpage
» Company featured in social media
post and conference marketing pieces,
identified as Alliances Partner
» Physical signage at the conferece: logo on
foam board in the Genera Session Room
» Pre- and post-conference attendees lists
» Company literature in Conference packet
Click Here to Join Nabho alliances
RDAR & MHDI PARTNERSHIP
Because of their generous in-kind donation, NABHO has invited RDAR & MHDI to
be the first Alliances partner.
For the past seven months, Halley Horne has
been serving as NABHO’s Communications
Assistant. With her help and with the support
from RDAR & MHDI, NABHO has been able to
publish its first annual report, has a regular
member spotlight on our Facebook and
Twitter, and has improved the website content.
Halley’s work has enhanced NABHO’s
professionalism in communication, internally
and externally.
Halley Horne
NABHO Communications
Assistant
09

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
2020 - 2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The Nebraska Association of Behavioral Health Organizations plays a significant role in the
formation and support of policies that benefit the behavioral health system of care. Advocacy is
our primary focus and priority.
Due to COVID, the Legislature took an unprecedented recess in March, 2020 and did not
re-convene until August. Even then, safety protocols prevented in-person lobbying of senators.
The budget was not adopted until well after the start of the new fiscal year, which delayed the
implementation of adopted rate increases for behavioral health providers. NABHO remained
in frequent communication with DHHS to ensure those rates were paid retroactively to July 1.
The health emergency turned “normal” business operations on their head. Not surprisingly,
NABHO’s focus shifted. In addition to legislative advocacy, we assisted members with:
implementing Directed Health Measures and safety protocols for providers and consumers,
investigating how to access federal emergency dollars such as the Paycheck Protection
Program, and navigating a dramatic shift to telehealth as the primary service delivery model.
NABHO participated in one of the Governor’s weekly press briefings and promoted the
importance of taking care of your mental health during the pandemic and highlighted the
ways NABHO member organizations responded to the needs of their clients and staff.
The 2021 Legislative Session saw a continuation of the COVID safety protocols which kept
contact with senators and staff to a minimum, day long hearings to get through all of the bills in
case of another shut down and no lobbyists in the Rotunda. Hearings saw some new protocols
with in lieu of personal testimony allowed for the record.
2020 NABHO Priority Successes
LB 1100 Included in the budget, built upon the previous year’s rate increases, allocated new
dollars for several behavioral health services with a 5% rate increase. Additional dollars were
included to raise Halfway House Service rates.
LB 1052 Restricted the Medicaid Division or managed care company from requiring prior
authorization for coverage for an antidepressant, anti-psychotic or anticonvulsant prescription
drug if determined medically necessary by a health care provider. The bill also added
language from two pharmacy bills.
LB 247 Adopted the Advance Mental Health Care Directives Act. Over the interim between
2019 and 2020 sessions the bill’s sponsor sought input for changes that were supported by
NABHO (AM 2206). New language addressed concerns from the provider and consumer,
including definitions of person designated to make mental health care decisions and the
principal who confers directive authority. The new language also provided for more flexibility
for the principal.
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2020 NABHO Priority Successes Cont.
LB 1184 was amended into LB 1002 (Sect 43, page 36 of the amendment) Dealt
with a Medicaid Division regulation decision on the age of front-line personnel working in
inpatient psychiatric units. Amended language set the age requirement at 20 years or older,
and required personnel to be at least 2 years older than the oldest resident in the facility, to
have a high school diploma or equivalent, and to have appropriate training.
LB 1158 incorporated amended language (AM 2851) from LB 83
Developed a new process for dollars allocated to managed care companies for Medicaid
services that are not expended because the company has not met the minimum medical loss
ratio, has unearned incentive funds or has any other funds in excess of limitations identified
in state or federal statute. These unexpended or unearned dollars would now be transferred
to a new Medicaid Managed Care Excess Profit Fund. Use of this money is first to offset any
losses in the managed care system and then to provide for services addressing health needs,
including filling service gaps, providing system improvements, and sustaining access to care as
determined by the legislature.
2021 NABHO Priority Successes
LB 380 Senator Dorn introduced LB 462 as an appropriations bill that would have increased
behavioral health provider rates in the Medicaid system by 3%. We were successful in getting
a 2% rate increase into the mainline budget (LB 380) for Medicaid, Child Welfare and
Behavioral Health Regional systems.
LB 384 The budget transfer bill (LB384) included language that allows for housing dollars
administered by the behavioral health regions to also be used to pay landlords for damages,
lost rent, legal fees and other expenses incurred when they rent to a low-income adults with
serious mental illness.
Also included in the budget was an additional $1.5M annually for the Rural Health Systems
and Professional Incentive Act (original LB 421) which provides state funding for student loans
for health care professionals who practice in rural health shortage areas, including physicians
and psychologists.
LB 247 Establishes the task force to implement the new 998 mental health crisis hotline in
Nebraska as established by federal law. Work is to be completed by December 31, 2022.
LB 400 Increases patient access to telehealth services by allowing for verbal consent in an
initial visit and for services to originate from any location or device. The written consent for
services is required 10 days after the initial visit. The bill also allows for audio only services in
delivery of behavioral health services.
LB 487 Requires private insurers to reimburse for telehealth treatment of mental health
conditions at the same rate as comparable in-person treatment.
11

Connie Barnes
Memorial Scholarship
Connie Barnes served as the President of NABHO from 2014 through 2016. While in that
role, she saw a need to build our leadership team and bring new voices to the table. Under
her guidance, NABHO created a mentor program that invited two individuals per year onto
the Executive Committee to help people understand its roles and responsibilities. Many
of the past program participants have gone on to become full members of the Executive
Committee.
In 2020, we re-christened the program the Connie Barnes Memorial Mentor Program to
honor the passing of our former President. This program was conceived out of the desire
to ensure that NABHO grows in its ability to advocate on behalf of our members. We want
to be a trusted voice and resource for policy makers and behavioral health stakeholders.
Institutional knowledge and experience are important, and we realized we needed a way to
“pass the baton” on to interested members. Establishing a mentor program was a means of
encouraging our members to feel involved and take ownership of their organization.
2020 - 2021 Participants
Heather Kirk
Santa Monica, Inc
June 2020 - 2021
Natalya Young
St. Monica’s
January 2021 - 2022
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Finance Report
Revenue
Membership Dues
$196,215.00
Total Revenue
$199,253.00
Other
$3,038.00
Expenses
Contract & Payroll
$134,205.68
Office/Technology
$15,966.64
Professional
Organizations
$15,393.00
Total Expenses
$174,577.07
Insurance, Banking,
Accounting
$6,019.41
Membership
Activities & Support
$1,807.42
Other
$1,184.42
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NABHO Office
l i n c o l n , n e b r a s k a
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WE ARE
September 2021 15

US
CONNECT WITH US
Annette Dubas, NABHO Executive Director
annette.dubas@outlook.com
308 - 550 - 0614
@caring.provider @caring_provider nabho.org
Click Here to Join NABHO Alliances
PO Box 36, Fullerton, NE 68638
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