In The Press

As a grassroots coalition led by providers and advocates, we believe in showing the real faces and voices behind the movement. This page includes photo highlights from our Roundtable events, podcast and radio interviews, news features, published articles, and other media moments that bring our mission to life. These stories reveal the urgency of our work and the power of collective action to transform mental health care.

In this "Therapist Unchained" episode, Sivie Suckerman, LMHC, ACS, talks with Nicole Sartini, LPCC, IMHP, about the Mental Health Insurance Reform Task Force’s advocacy. They discuss low insurance reimbursements, poor enforcement of parity laws, provider organization, education, and alternative models, highlighting the need for education, empowerment, teamwork, and cross-sector collaboration for mental health reform.

Nicole Sartini advocates for equitable mental health access by breaking barriers that hinder care regardless of background. Addressing systemic obstacles, she promotes mental health as a universal right. The focus includes policy change, community engagement, and resource allocation. The video uses stories and facts to inspire action for a fair, just mental health system.

Why are Ohio’s behavioral health counselors—the state’s largest mental health workforce—paid the least? This episode unpacks the hidden policies and legal roadblocks driving low reimbursement and outlines a bold strategy to reclaim power and sustainability. With guests Mike Desposito and Derek Lee, we connect underpayment to access issues and explore how collective action, business literacy, and enforcement can shift the system. It's not just about fair pay—it’s about protecting care for those who need it most.

Holding Insurers Accountable for Mental Health Parity

In a united bipartisan effort, Representatives Lisa Willner and Vanessa Grossl teamed up with Sheila Schuster and Nicole Sartini to stand before the Interim Joint Committee on Banking and Insurance. Their shared mission: champion a groundbreaking 2026 parity bill that will compel insurers to fully comply with the law, enhance legislative and Attorney General oversight, and put an end to silent noncompliance and clawbacks. This bill promises to break down barriers and make mental health care truly accessible for all.

Clinicians emphasize that achieving true parity requires enforcing existing legislation and addressing loopholes that insurers exploit to deny or limit coverage for mental health treatment and payment for services. This includes removing restrictions on the number of visits, reducing copayments, reducing clinician clawbacks, and ensuring that mental health services are adequately reimbursed.

Policymakers, insurers, and healthcare providers must collaborate to implement reforms that reflect the real needs of patients. Only through sustained advocacy and systemic change can Kentucky fulfill the promise of mental health parity and support the well-being of all its residents.

Watch Committee Meeting

Draft Mental Health & Substance Use Disorder Parity Legislation (BR 74)