Guest Author
As we mark Mental Health Awareness Month, it is vital to recognize the crucial role that Florida’s Behavioral Health Managing Entities (MEs) play in supporting the well-being of millions of Floridians. MEs are the backbone of the state’s behavioral health safety net system — working strategically, efficiently, transparently, and with a deep commitment to individuals, families, and communities across Florida.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, approximately 2.9 million adults in Florida experience a mental health condition each year. National statistics show that one in five adults experiences mental illness annually. More than 700,000 adult Floridians live with a serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depression.
MEs work with community-based providers to increase access to high-quality, evidence-based behavioral health care, deliver services efficiently, provide care coordination to meet a person’s complete needs, and support a strained behavioral health workforce. MEs are uniquely positioned to tailor services to the specific needs of each region.
Their responsibilities are vast and impactful. To the state, MEs streamline access to care, quickly adjust to emerging needs, and ensure accountability through rigorous quality assurance. They operate with an administrative rate of 3% collectively — a testament to their cost-effective and resourceful approach. To providers, they ensure timely payments, data access, and support, all while prioritizing service quality and transparency.
For communities, MEs identify service gaps through needs assessment, eliminate duplication of efforts, work with community advisory councils, and design actionable care systems grounded in local needs. Most importantly to individuals and families, MEs ensure care is compassionate, evidence-based, and focused on long-term recovery and stability.
Florida’s MEs are leaders, collaborators, and problem-solvers. They are the engine behind a system that helps Floridians navigate the challenges of mental illness and substance use disorder every single day.
As we raise awareness this month, let us also raise our voices in support of Florida’s behavioral health safety net system and all of the providers within the network — the unsung heroes of Florida’s behavioral health landscape. With continued investment and support, this model can serve as a blueprint for how states can meet the behavioral health needs of their citizens effectively and compassionately.
___
Natalie Kelly is CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities.
