Around the Agencies
- NIAAA releases analysis finding increasing similarities between male and female alcohol consumption
- SAMHSA appoints Amy Haseltine as Acting Principal Deputy Administrator
- SAMHSA announces FY 2016 grant program focusing on treatment for adolescent and transition aged youth
- CSAP announces e-learning course on prevention set-aside of SAPT Block Grant
- NREPP accepting submissions of substance use and mental health interventions
In the News
- White House seeks nominations for Champions of Change program highlighting substance use disorder advocates
- NAIC approves model State-level legislation for ensuring health insurance provider network adequacy
- Kaiser Family Foundation survey looks at effects of prescription painkiller abuse
Around the Agencies
NIAAA releases analysis finding increasing similarities between male and female alcohol consumption
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released a study examining similarities between male and female alcohol consumption last week. The study examined data from national surveys conducted between 2002 and 2013, finding that differences between male and female alcohol consumption have decreased over the past decade. NIAAA found that alcohol consumption in the past 30 days increased from 44.9 percent to 48.3 percent among females and decreased from 57.4 percent to 56.1 percent among males. The average number of drinking days in the past month experienced a similar pattern, with female drinking days increasing from 6.8 to 7.3 days and male drinking days decreasing from 9.9 to 9.5 days. NIAAA recommends additional studies to determine the causes behind the changing patterns.
SAMHSA appoints Amy Haseltine as Acting Principal Deputy Administrator
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the appointment of Amy Haseltine as Acting Principal Administrator, effective December 13, 2015. Ms. Haseltine will oversee the management of SAMHSA’s budget and grant management in her new position. Ms. Haseltine previously worked for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR), and currently serves as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for HHS’s Office of Grants and Acquisition Policy and Accountability (OGAPA) where she oversees policies and procedures related to grant programs.
SAMHSA announces FY 2016 grant program focusing on treatment for adolescent and transitional aged youth
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced the opening of applications for the FY 2016 Cooperative Agreements for Adolescent and Transitional Aged Youth Treatment Implementation this past week. The grant program will offer two awards of up to $800,000 a year for up to three years to eligible State governments and tribal organizations. Grant funds should be used to improve the treatment of substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders for adolescent and transitional aged youth through the implementation of evidence-based treatment models and recovery support services. Applications are due by Tuesday, January 26, 2016.
CSAP announces e-learning course on prevention set-aside of SAPT Block Grant
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) has created an e-learning course for State agencies on the primary prevention component of the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant. The goal of the course is to provide participants with the basic knowledge they will need to successfully apply for and plan for the use of the primary prevention set-aside of the SAPT Block Grant.
The course includes nine modules that are broken down into three sections. The modules include examples from the field and opportunities for viewers to test their knowledge of grant requirements. The first three modules provide an overview of the statutory and regulatory requirements of the SAPT Block Grant and, in particular, the primary prevention set-aside. The second three modules provide further detail about the primary prevention programmatic requirements. Finally, the last three modules review primary prevention performance and expenditure reporting.
NREPP accepting submissions of substance use and mental health interventions
The National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP), developed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is accepting submissions of substance use and mental health interventions until January 26th, 2016. NREPP is a searchable online database of more than 350 mental health and substance use interventions. The minimum requirements for submission are listed on the SAMHSA website.
In the News
White House seeks nominations for Champions of Change program highlighting substance use disorder advocates
The White House continues to seek nominations for its Champions of Change program highlighting substance use disorder advocates. The Champions of Change Program aims to recognize friends, family, colleagues, and advocates of individuals with substance use disorders working to improve access to treatment and recovery. The selected Champions of Change will be honored during a Spring 2016 event. The Obama Administration requires that all nominations be submitted by midnight on Sunday, December 19th.
NAIC approves model State-level legislation for ensuring health insurance provider network adequacy
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) approved a model State-level legislation for ensuring health insurance provider network adequacy last week. The approval follows an 18-month examination of and engagement with health plans, providers, and consumer advocates working within healthcare. The model law aims to increase State regulation and oversight of provider networks in an effort to increase health insurance plan transparency. One portion of the model legislation creates a “structured mediation process” for reconciling large costs unexpectedly incurred by patients using out-of-network physician and specialists. New definitions for tiered networks and new requirements for provider directories are also included in the draft.
Kaiser Family Foundation survey looks at effects of prescription painkiller abuse
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that nearly four in 10 people know someone who has been addicted to prescription painkillers, including 25 percent who say it was a close friend or family member and 2 percent who acknowledge their own substance use disorder. According to the survey, 6 percent said they had taken a prescription painkiller that was not prescribed to them, 16 percent reported knowing a person who died from an overdose of pain medication, and 9 percent said they had lost a relative or good friend to an overdose. Large majorities say a number of efforts would be effective in reducing painkiller abuse, including treatment programs, monitoring doctors’ prescribing habits, public education programs, training doctors, and encouraging people to appropriately dispose of leftover medication.
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.