Around the Agencies

• SAMHSA releases FY 2016 grant opportunities forecast
• CDC draft opioid prescribing guideline available for public comment
• CMS releases instructional videos on ICD-10 coding
• CMS finds that more than 1 million new consumers have signed up through HealthCare.gov
• CMS updates Hospital and Physician Compare websites
• CMS releases results of FY 2016 Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program
• CMS releases 2016 updates to Child and Adult Core Health Care Quality Measurement, including measure of high dosage opioid use in persons without cancer

In the News

• White House announces community forums on opioid use disorders

News from NASADAD

• NASADAD presents on law enforcement & opioid issues to the National Conference on State Legislatures
• NASADAD attends briefing on healthcare for incarcerated individuals reentering society
• NASADAD attends conference on The Excellence Act and criminal justice reform

Around the Agencies

SAMHSA releases advanced notice of FY 2016 grant opportunities forecast
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released an advanced notice of FY 2016 grant opportunities last week. The notice will eventually be posted to the SAMSHA website. The forecast includes many grant funding opportunities provided by the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS)

CDC draft opioid prescribing guideline available for public comment
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is developing an opioid prescribing guideline to help primary care providers offer safer, more effective care for patients with chronic pain while reducing misuse, abuse, and overdose from these drugs. The guideline will provide recommendations to primary care providers about the appropriate prescribing of opioid pain medications to improve pain management and patient safety. Recommendations focus on the use of opioids in treating chronic pain. The public comment period opened December 14^th and closes January 13^th.

To review and comment, please visit: www.Regulations.gov and enter the docket number CDC-2015-0112.

CMS releases instructional videos on ICD-10 coding
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an instructional video on ICD-10 coding basics last week. The video features Nelly Leon-Chisen, Director of Coding and Classification at the American Hospital Association (AHA), and Sue Bowman, Senior Director of Coding Policy and Compliance at the American Health Information Management Association. Both speakers discuss several examples of how to properly utilize ICD-10 codes, including a review of valid versus invalid codes. ICD-10 code usage was made mandatory on October 1^st following the implementation of a final rule.

Access additional ICD-10 implementation resources here.

CMS finds that more than 1 million new consumers have signed up through HealthCare.gov
The Centers for Medicare  and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the most recent iteration of the open enrollment snapshot last week, finding that more than 1 million new consumers have signed up for healthcare through HealthCare.gov. The snapshot further states that 1.8 million individuals have returned to HealthCare.gov to renew healthcare coverage during the same period. CMS reports that 2.84 million individuals have made plan selections since open enrollment began on November 1^st. Open enrollment concludes on December 15^th.

CMS updates Hospital and Physician Compare websites
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the Hospital and Physician Compare websites last week. The websites provide performance data on hospitals and providers for consumers. The Physician Compare website now includes performance scores for preventive care, diabetes, cardiovascular care, and patient safety for over 275 group practices, including data from Medicare’s Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS). The Hospital Compare website now includes data from the Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) program on safe surgery practices.

CMS releases results of FY 2016 Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the results of the FY 2016 Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program last week. The results found that 758 out of 3,308 hospitals monitored under the HAC program were in the worst performing quartile. These poor performers will be subject to a one percent payment reduction for Medicaid charges occurring between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016. CMS estimates that $364 million in savings occurred as a result of the program.

CMS releases 2016 updates to Child and Adult Core Health Care Quality Measurement, including measure of high dosage opioid use in persons without cancer
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Center for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Services (CMCS) released the 2016 updates to the Child and Adult Core Health Care Quality Measurement last week, including a new measure tracking “use of opioids from multiple providers at high dosages in persons without cancer” to the Adult Core Set. The tracking of high dosages of opioids will allow CMCS and States to better track quality of care for adults with substance use disorders.

In the News

White House announces community forums on opioid use disorders
The White House announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director, Michael Botticelli, will hold several community forums across the country on evidence-based policies to prevent and treat prescription and heroin use disorders this past week. The announcement followed news that opioid overdose deaths rose significantly between 2013 and 2014, with prescription opioid-related overdoses increasing 16 percent to 18,893 total deaths in 2014. The increase is partially attributed to the rise of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. Heroin-related overdose deaths increased 28 percent to 10,574 total deaths in 2014. The first community forum hosted by ONDCP will be held on Oklahoma on December 16, and will be followed by forums in Connecticut and several other States early next year.

News from NASADAD

NASADAD presents on law enforcement & opioid issues to the National Conference on State Legislatures
On December 10^th, Rob Morrison presented at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Capitol Forum on criminal justice and addiction policy. He presented on a panel in the NCSL Law, Criminal Justice & Public Safety Committee Track, along with Rep. Eric K. Hutchings of the Utah House of Representatives, and Mary Lou Leary of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). In the presentation, Mr. Morrison highlighted law enforcement & opioid issues, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and Drug, Family, and Veterans Courts in the States. View the presentation slides here.

NASADAD attends briefing on healthcare for incarcerated individuals reentering society
Brian Denten, Public Policy Intern, attended the briefing hosted by the Alliance for Health Reform on Friday, December 11^th. The briefing included panelists involved in researching the healthcare needs of incarcerated individuals reentering society after the conclusion of their sentence. Healthcare costs within the criminal justice system have substantially increased over the past ten years, growing from 10% of criminal justice expenditures in 2001 to 20% in 2011. Speakers highlighted ongoing efforts at the State level to enroll incarcerated individuals into Medicaid and other healthcare plans, focusing on the successes of Ohio’s pre-release enrollment program. Strong stakeholder partnerships and cultural competency were stressed as key factors in successful program implementation.

Panelists:

• Matt McKillop; The Pew Charitable Trusts
• Kara Miller; Ohio Department of Medicaid
• Saroya Friedman-Gonzalez; The National Urban League

 

NASADAD attends conference on The Excellence Act and criminal justice reform
Brian Denten, Public Policy Intern, attended the conference hosted by the Community Oriented Correctional Health Services (COCHS) and the National Council for Behavioral Health on Tuesday, December 8^th. The conference featured several panels discussing the intersections between the criminal justice system, mental health, and substance use disorders. Speakers stressed the wide health disparities experienced by minorities both inside and outside the criminal justice system, and suggested increased investment in certified community behavioral health clinics (CCBHCs) as a possible response. Justice-involved individuals experience higher rates of illnesses including hypertension, hepatitis, and mental and substance use disorders compared to the general population.

CCBHCs are clinics designed for individuals experiencing serious mental health and substance use disorders, providing evidence-based treatment, peer support services, and 24/7 crisis response to those in need. CCBHCs were created through the provisions in the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (H.R. 4302) referred to as the Excellence in Mental Health Act (The Excellence Act). The Excellence Act initially designed a CCBHC demonstration grant program for a total of eight States. The demonstration grants provide two years of funding for the eight demonstration programs.

Panelists:

• Steven Rosenberg; President, Community Oriented Correctional Health Services
• Linda Rosenberg; MSW, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Council for Behavioral Health
• Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI); Co-Sponsor of the Excellence Act (S. 264)
• Jeff Richardson; Chief Executive Officer, Mosaic Group; Second Vice Chair, Board of Directors, National Council for Behavioral Health
• Lisa Puglisi; MD, MAS, Assistant Professor, Yale School of Medicine
• Gary Puckrein; PhD, Chief Executive Officer, National Minority Quality Forum
• Malvise A. Scott; Senior Vice President for Partnership and Resource Development, National Association of Community Health Centers
• Judith Solomon; JD, Vice President for Health Policy, The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Kana Enomoto; Acting Administrator Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• Dan Mistak; JD, MS, MA, General Counsel, Community Oriented Correctional Health Services
• Robert Davison; MA, LPC, Executive Director, Mental Health Association of Essex County, New Jersey
• Jean Peters Baker; JD, Prosecutor, Jackson County, Missouri
• Captain Mark Neuman; Administrative Commander at Kent County Correctional Facility, Kent County, Michigan Sheriff’s Department
• Carson Fox; JD, Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Drug Court Professionals
• Dina Passman; MPH, Public Health Advisor at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Karen Chrisman; JD, MA, CHP, CSCS, Staff Attorney, Governor’s Office of Electronic Health Information for the State of Kentucky
• Kamala Mallik-Kane; MPH, Research Associate at the Justice Policy Enter, The Urban Institute

 

Should you have any questions, or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Robert Morrison, Executive Director, (202) 293-0090 or Shalini Wickramatilake-Templeman, Public Policy Associate, at (202) 293-0090.