Ep. 38 The Truth About Behavioral Health Policy and Advocacy with Andrew Kessler

In this episode of MasterMined, Mark Scrivner and Jeff Skillen sit down with Andrew Kessler, Principal at Slingshot Solutions, to demystify how behavioral health policy actually gets made in Washington. Andrew breaks down the difference between lobbying and advocacy, why education—not emotion alone—drives sustainable change, and how funding decisions ultimately determine whether legislation delivers real impact. From parity and appropriations to today's shifting political trade winds, this conversation equips behavioral health leaders with a clearer lens on how to engage policy strategically and effectively. Key Moments 01:28 – Introducing Andrew Kessler and Slingshot Solutions 02:17 – Advocacy vs. lobbying: what's the real difference 05:56 – Why legislation takes years—and why the calendar matters 08:10 – Andrew's path into behavioral health policy 17:31 – The real story behind parity and "right place, right time" 29:53 – Three things every advocate must understand 36:09 – Why appropriations and funding are the real engine 45:37 – Current political trade winds impacting behavioral health 1:00:44 – What leaders should watch next in policy and funding Learn More & Connect Show Notes + Resources: https://snapshotinteractive.com/mastermined Connect with Andrew Kessler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-kessler-5a10666/ | https://www.slingshotsolutions.net Connect with Mark Scrivner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markscrivner | https://snapshotinteractive.com Connect with Jeff Skillen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffskillen | https://www.skillsetenterprises.com Our Sponsor - Snapshot: https://snapshotinteractive.com