May is Mental Health Month Tips

According to Julia K. Boehm, Ph.D., a researcher at the Harvard School of Public Education, “health is more than just the absence of disease...my research tries to move away from a focus on the absence of poor functioning, to the things that people do well or that allow them to flourish and thrive.”  Learn more about her work and the importance of positivity here: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/magazine/happiness-stress-heart-disease/ #mhmonth2014


The positive effects of laughing linger in the brain for up to 45 minutes after laughing, including the increase in depression-suppressing and immunity-boosting hormones.  Enjoy a good laugh as often as possible.  What always makes you laugh?#mhmonth2014 

 A diet high in saturated fats and refined sugars has a strong negative impact on brain proteins, which impact depression and potentially other mental health conditions.  Eat healthy to help your brain stay healthy.  Learn some techniques here: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/healthy-diet-eating-mental-health-mind.  Have any recipes you want to share with us? #mhmonth2014

Dark chocolate is the only food shown to directly improve mood.  Have a piece, and savor the good mood today.  Taking time for yourself helps improve your mood and lower stress as well.  Check out this recipe for Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bites – healthy and delicious! http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/dark-chocolate-frozen-peanut-butter-banana-bites/
What’s your favorite dark chocolate treat? #mhmonth2014

13th Annual IHA Health Literacy Conference

“I want to let you know that my poster abstract has been selected for presentation at the 13^th Annual IHA Health Literacy Conference, “Operational Solutions to Low Health Literacy: At the Intersection of the Affordable Care Act and Health Literacy.” I’m presenting my poster on Thursday evening, May 8, at the Hotel Irvine-Jamboree Center in Irvine, California. If you’re interested in attending the conference and seeing my poster, follow this link to register now. Thanks for your support!”

New Code Expected to Boost Peer Support Profession

A major step was recently taken to incorporate peer specialists as integral parts of the healthcare industry.

The National Uniform Coding Committee (NUCC) approved coding of peer specialist services on March 18. This coding, specific to peer specialists, will enable state and federal agencies to bill peer support services more effectively and facilitate better tracking of such services. The NUCC is made up of major health care providers and insurance industry members including the Center for Medicare and Medicaid services, and other public health organizations.

The coding is especially important for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the largest single employer of peer specialists, as it will allow that department to more efficiently bill and track peer specialists’ work. There are other benefits, according to Dan O’Brien-Mazza, Director of Peer Support Services for the department.

“This classification puts peer specialists on par with other mental health professionals,” he says. “It is a measure of respect and recognition of the important and valuable services peer specialists provide. It better allows peer specialists to work alongside other mental health professionals. No one can say peer specialist is not a legitimate health care profession.”

Approval of the classification is an indicator of a maturing profession delivering on outcomes of strength-based recovery and whole health, according to Larry Fricks, Director of the Appalachian Consulting Group.

“When a new workforce emerges (peer specialists) it moves forward in increments. We are on a critical path,” Fricks says. “With this classification and key milestones like the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services proclaiming peer support services as evidence-based in 2007 and providing states with billing guidelines, our role is increasingly valued. We may still have challenges, but this is another significant step in the right direction.”

O’Brien-Mazza says the classification is likely to have additional importance as the Department of Veterans Affairs strives to expand peer specialists into larger, whole health roles.

The NUCC defines the classification as follows: Peer Specialists—Individuals certified to perform peer support services through a training process defined by a government agency such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, or a state mental health department/certification/licensing authority.

The new code will be included in a July 1 release of changes to the code set and will be effective Oct. 1, 2014. Although many states have other codes to use to bill Medicaid, this new classification is likely to be adopted by states in order to simplify billing and keep more accurately account for peer support activities and services.

“Dan deserves much credit for this accomplishment,” says Steve Harrington, Executive Director of the International Association of Peer Supporters. “It was his leadership that resulted in this important step. This is yet another way the Department of Veterans Affairs has been leading the development of peer support in the U.S.”