Workgroups
The bulk of the Mental Health Action Partnership’s work takes place in the workgroups. There are four active workgroups focusing on the following topics: Medicaid & Workforce, Access & Equity, Criminal Justice, and Data. The Medicaid and Workforce Workgroups were separate until they merged in February 2025 due to having significant overlap. There is a Governance workgroup that does not meet regularly but convenes as needed to clarify and further develop guidance on how MHAP operates. The four active workgroups currently meet monthly via Zoom but may reduce their meeting frequency as needed. If you are interested in joining MHAP and participating in a workgroup, please contact us.
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The Medicaid & Workforce Workgroup focuses on inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates, onerous regulations/billing requirements, addressing the mental health provider shortage, and increasing access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services throughout Wisconsin. With regards to Medicaid, this workgroup aims to develop an understanding of Medicaid’s role in the mental health system in Wisconsin, examine current reimbursement procedures and challenges, and develop recommendations for improving reimbursement rates for mental health providers and other avenues for improving the quality and availability of services. With regards to the mental health workforce, this workgroup aims to examine the current challenges to building an adequate mental health workforce, current strategies and resources, and gaps, and to develop recommendations for the Department of Health Services and other relevant entities. Prior to February 2025, there were separate workgroups for Medicaid and Workforce, but they merged due to having significant overlap in the issues they identified and proposals they developed.
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The Access and Equity Workgroup identifies issues and solutions to meet the mental health needs of diverse populations throughout Wisconsin. MHAP is committed to a culture of inclusiveness that engages a wide array of stakeholders from diverse populations throughout Wisconsin, including but not limited to race and ethnicity; gender and sexuality; socioeconomic status; geography (rural, urban, etc.); language; culture; veteran status; disability; and age.
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The Criminal Justice Workgroup identifies strategies and recommends policies to divert people with mental health needs from justice system involvement and into appropriate mental health services. The workgroup focuses on diversion strategies and policy recommendations related to law enforcement, courts, incarceration and supervision.
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The new Data Workgroup, which began meeting in November 2024, identifies, compiles, and analyzes data related to the mental health system in Wisconsin. The Data Workgroup also identifies gaps in the data and advocates for improved mental health data collection and data sharing in Wisconsin.
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The Governance Workgroup proposed a decision-making structure and process for the Partnership. This includes providing general guidelines for workgroups, as well as laying out processes for decision-making within workgroups and for the Partnership as a whole.
