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Each year, the National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit brings together a diverse cross-section of leaders committed to addressing one of the most complex public health challenges of our time—the opioid overdose epidemic and broader substance use crisis.   This year’s Summit held particular meaning for me, as I had the opportunity to engage in three distinct roles: moderator, main-stage panelist, and advisory board member. Each role offered a different vantage point into the same

Later this April, I’ll be joining a panel at NATCON 2026  titled “Building Payer Partnerships That Deliver: A Practical SUD Playbook.”  This session brings together perspectives from across the ecosystem—payer, provider, policy, and data—to focus on one of the most important (and often misunderstood) areas in behavioral health today: how to design value-based reimbursement models that actually work. The conversation around value-based care in behavioral health—particularly su

Throughout the day at the 2026 BH AI Summit , we’ll explore how artificial intelligence is beginning to influence nearly every part of the behavioral health ecosystem. From helping people find treatment, to improving clinical documentation, to strengthening financial operations and governance, AI is gradually becoming embedded in the infrastructure that supports behavioral health care. But we will close the day by focusing on something even more important than technology: The

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the behavioral health ecosystem. From patient engagement tools and digital assessments to clinical documentation and revenue cycle analytics, AI is beginning to touch nearly every part of the treatment journey. But with that innovation comes an equally important responsibility: ensuring that these tools are safe, secure, and ethically deployed. At the 2026 BH AI Summit , I’ll be moderating a panel that focuses on one of the

As part of this year’s National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit , I’ll be moderating a panel on Wednesday, April 8th from 10:30 AM – 11:45 AM in Delta Ballroom C at the Gaylord Opryland and Resort  in Nashville, TN focused on a topic that is both foundational—and too often overlooked—in our behavioral health system: The role of families in supporting recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). This session will bring together a distinguished panel including Peter Gaumond , John K

When people think about innovation in behavioral health care, they often focus on clinical breakthroughs, new therapeutic approaches, or emerging technologies that support patient engagement. But behind every clinical interaction lies something equally important: the financial systems that make care possible. Behavioral health organizations must constantly balance mission and sustainability. Services must not only deliver meaningful outcomes for patients—they must also be rei

One of the most common frustrations clinicians express across healthcare—particularly in behavioral health—is the burden of documentation. Many clinicians entered the field because they wanted to help people. Yet over time, the growth of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)  and administrative requirements has created a reality where providers often feel pulled away from the very thing that matters most: being present with their patients. At the 2026 BH AI Summit , I’ll have the

On April 7, 2026 , I will have the opportunity to moderate a panel at the 2026 BH AI Summit  titled: “AI in the Patient Journey: AI and Patient Acquisition.” The session will take place from 10:45–11:30 AM in the Tennessee Ballroom at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and will feature an outstanding group of leaders who are actively working at the intersection of behavioral health, technology, and patient engagement. One of the most important realities in behav

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of the behavioral health landscape. From the way patients search for care to how clinicians document sessions, manage revenue cycle operations, and support workforce sustainability, AI is beginning to influence nearly every stage of the treatment journey. On April 7th 2026, I will have the opportunity to moderate a full day of panel discussions at the 2026 BH AI Summit , hosted by HMP Global. The summit brings together leaders

For years, rural and chronically underserved communities have been asked to do more with less. Fewer providers. Longer travel times. Narrower reimbursement margins. And growing behavioral health needs layered on top of chronic disease, economic instability, and workforce shortages. Against that backdrop, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announcement of $50 billion in Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) awards  is more than a funding update. It is a si

As the year wraps up, I’ve been thinking about some of the topics featured in the NorthStar Behavioral Health Advisory blog posts over the past few months, and what they say about where behavioral health response is right now and where it's headed. One thing became clear quickly: our response to behavioral health issues don't exist in a vacuum . Policy changes, payer decisions, data, clinical practice, and lived experience are all connected. Each post this year was an attem

Over the past several months, one message has come through loud and clear: for behavioral health organizations to survive—and truly serve their communities—they must diversify how they bring in revenue. This need is growing as organizations prepare for reduced funding from government health plans, shrinking ACA coverage, and smaller pools of philanthropic dollars. So what does revenue diversification actually mean? The honest answer is: it depends. Every organization has a u

Over the weekend of November 8–9, I had the privilege of participating in the Kick-Off for the SAFE Project  Collegiate Recovery Leadership Academy (CRLA)  2026 cohort in Washington, D.C.—a fitting backdrop for students learning to connect their campus initiatives to the broader strategies shaping addiction and recovery systems across our country. This marks my sixth year serving as a mentor , and over that time I’ve witnessed the program’s steady evolution, one that mirrors

By Eric Bailly, LPC, LADC NorthStar Behavioral Health Advisory | Navigating complex social systems so that all communities may thrive When it comes to our healthcare delivery system in the United States, frustration is easy to find. Rising insurance premiums, reduced funding for safety-net programs, and uncertainty surrounding critical access hospitals have become familiar headlines. For those of us working to improve behavioral health access and integration, these challenge

When the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was first introduced, it fundamentally reshaped how millions of Americans accessed and paid for healthcare. By expanding the availability of premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies, the ACA not only made coverage attainable for lower- and middle-income individuals, it redefined how behavioral health services could be delivered with consistency and dignity. Now, as Congress debates the future of these subsidies, the stakes could not be

Recently, I stumbled upon a YouTube episode hosted by the popular Dr. Mike , who spent time with Dr. Eric Bender , a psychiatrist known for advising media outlets on accurately depicting mental illness. This is an area I’ve always found fascinating—especially how mental illness and substance misuse are portrayed in movies and television.   I can’t count how many times I’ve been struck by the incredible inaccuracies: movies offering quick, tidy solutions to complex behavioral

Really? What does farming have to do with substance use harm reduction? I’ll connect the dots, I promise. Like many of you, I like to...

As September draws to a close, we wrap up another National Recovery Month —a time when individuals, families, and communities lift up the...

This past weekend, I had the honor of serving as a faculty fellow for The Washington Center ’s 2025 Health Policy Immersion in...

Welcome to The Guiding Star Blog! 35 years ago, I made a decision which transformed my life trajectory, and solidified my path forward....