Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)

The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) is the principal advisor to the HHS Secretary on policy development and is responsible for major activities in policy coordination, legislation development, strategic planning, and policy research, evaluation, and economic analysis. The Division of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities Policy focuses on financing, access/delivery, organization, and quality of services and supports for individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses or severe addictions and individuals with intellectual disabilities. Topics of interest include coverage and payment issues in Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance; quality and consumer protection issues; programs and policies of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Health Resources and Services Administration as they affect individuals with mental and substance use disorders; and prevention of mental health conditions and substance misuse, including prevention of underage drinking. In addition, the Division Director of ASPE’s Children and Youth Policy Office is the HHS Secretary’s designee to chair the Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs, which was established via Executive Order in 2008 to promote enhanced federal collaboration to improve outcomes for youth.

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