Barbara Cimaglio (VT) testifies before House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS
On April 5th Barbara Cimaglio, Deputy Health Commissioner for the State of Vermont and long-time NASADAD Board member, testified before the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies. The subcommittee oversees funding for programs within the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Under the leadership of Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the subcommittee held a hearing on the federal response to the opioid crisis. Other witnesses, in addition to Ms. Cimaglio, included: Bill Guy of Parents Helping Parents; Nancy Hale, President and CEO of Operation UNITE; and Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Senior Economist and Co-Director of the Drug Policy Research Center at the RAND Corporation.
Witnesses: Bill Guy, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Nancy Hale, and Barbara Cimaglio
Ms. Cimaglio’s testimony included a description of the opioid crisis in Vermont, as well as an overview of the Hub & Spoke Model for medication-assisted treatment and coordinated care. She spoke about the impact of the Substance Abuse Prevention & Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant funding, and thanked Congress for its decision to allocate $1 billion over the next two years to help States address opioid addiction and overdose. She concluded with three recommendations for the subcommittee: 1) federal initiatives should include involvement of State substance abuse agencies given their expertise and authority over the addiction prevention, treatment, and recovery systems; 2) continue support for the SAPT Block Grant; and 3) Congress and the Administration should continue to work with State-based groups that are involved in addressing the opioid crisis, including NASADAD.
Read Ms. Cimaglio’s full written testimony here.
Watch a recording of the hearing here.
Barbara Cimaglio meets Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK)
Barbara Cimaglio with Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and fellow witness, Nancy Hale
Should you have any questions, or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact Robert Morrison, Executive Director, or Shalini Wickramatilake-Templeman, Federal Affairs Manager, at (202) 293-0090.