While much of the Institute’s policy work over the latter part of the year was focused on responding to the Uvalde tragedy, significant progress was made in many other policy areas as well.

In April, the Institute provided background information and data to the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs as they addressed their interim charges to improve the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mental health crisis response involving veterans.

In May, Hani Talebi, Chief Clinical Officer and Senior Vice President for Health System Integration, presented to the House Public Education Committee on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student mental health and opportunities to provide flexible funding for mental health services to schools.

In August, Marcy Melvin, Deputy Director of The Hackett Center for Mental Health, presented to the House Juvenile Justice & Family Issues Committee regarding the expansion of Multisystemic Therapy (MST) to reduce youth involvement in the juvenile justice system.

The Institute also worked with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission throughout the year on the implementation of legislation passed in the 87th Legislative Session, including HB 4 (Price), which allowed more mental health services to be delivered via telemedicine, telehealth, and audio-only, and SB 672 (Buckingham), which made the collaborative care model reimbursable under Medicaid.

The Meadows Institute continues to provide crucial insight and data to lawmakers and stakeholders, working toward a goal of elevating Texas as the national model in providing mental health care when and where it’s needed.