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Special DC Update – April 17, 2017: Barbara Cimaglio (VT) testifies before House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor-HHS

 


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.

D.C. Update – April 21, 2017

 

News from the States

Around the Agencies

In the News

Upcoming Events

 

News from the States

Fatal drug overdoses in Virginia increased 38 percent last year

Over 1,400 Virginians died from a drug overdose last year, amounting to a 38% increase in overdose deaths between 2015 and 2016. According to the State’s Health Department, this number may actually be even higher, because the cause of death has not yet been certified for 60 cases from 2016. In a Washington Post interview last week, State Health Commissioner Marissa Levine noted that the recent rise in overdose deaths is primarily attributable to heroin, fentanyl, and carfentanil. Virginia has experienced a typical shift in drugs of use from prescription opioids to illicit opioids; a decade ago most drug overdose deaths were caused by prescription analgesics.

In 2016, Commissioner Levine issued a standing order to allow any Virginia resident to acquire the opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone from a pharmacy. This year, the Virginia General Assembly has passed bills to legalize needle-exchange programs; further increase access to naloxone; change prescription policies; and provide services to infants exposed to opioids in utero. The NASADAD member from Virginia is Mellie Randall, Director of Substance Use Disorder Policy.

Read more about Virginia’s opioid crisis here.

New report estimates 71 percent increase in opioid overdose deaths in NY from 2010 to 2015

A report released by the Rockefeller Institute titled “The Growing Drug Epidemic in New York,” estimates a 71 percent increase in opioid overdose deaths from 2010 to 2015. The report notes that the opioid crisis is primarily impacting older adults in upstate and suburban areas, compared previous years when to New York City was the hub of opioid addiction. The largest overdose death increase was in Erie County, where the drug-related death rate grew 256 percent over the 5-year period. Other key findings include a higher overdose death rate among men compared to women, as well as a higher rate among Caucasians compared to African Americans and Hispanics.

The NASADAD member in New York is Arlene González-Sanchez, Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), who serves on the NASADAD Board of Directors.

Read the full report here.

Around the Agencies

CDC launches online training series on opioid prescribing guidelines

Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the first module of its online training series that aims to help clinicians apply the CDC’s opioid prescribing guidelines for adults with chronic pain. The first module offers an overview of the guidelines. Upcoming modules will address: communicating with patients; treating chronic pain without opioids; deciding whether to prescribe opioids; opioid dosing and titration; reducing opioid risks; assessing and addressing opioid use disorder; and implementing the guidelines in the practice.

Access the first module here.

CMS issues final rule to encourage stability in health insurance market for 2018

Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final Market Stabilization rule. The rule aims to lower premiums and stabilize individual and small group markets and increase choices for individuals obtaining coverage in the Marketplace that was created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  In a press release, Administrator of CMS, Seema Verma, stated that, “CMS is committed to ensuring access to high quality affordable healthcare for all Americans and these actions are necessary to increase patient choices and to lower premiums.”

As outlined in the CMS press release, the final rule will make the following changes:

  • Adjust the annual open enrollment period for 2018 to more closely align with Medicare and the private market. The next open enrollment period will be November 1st– December 15th, 2017.
  • Require individuals to submit supporting documentation for special enrollment periods and ensure that only those who are eligible are able to enroll.
  • Allow issuers to require individuals to pay back past due premiums before enrolling into a plan with the same issuer the following year.
  • Eliminate duplicative review of network adequacy by the federal government; the rule will return oversight of network adequacy to States.

 

Access the final rule here.

GAO report, on CMS oversight efforts and importance of collaborating with States

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) oversight efforts and notes the importance of collaborating with States on oversight. The report notes that, “CMS reviews States’ efforts to reduce improper Medicaid payments, and encourages them to use collaborative audits—where CMS contractors and States work together to review the accuracy of payments made.” However, some States have reported barriers, such as burden on staff, to participating in collaborative audits. GAO also found that CMS needs to develop a more systematic approach to collecting information about State practices to reduce improper Medicaid payments.

Read the report here.

In the News

ATTC/NIATx Service Improvement Blog features post on drinking culture in Wisconsin 

The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) and NIATx featured a post on their Service Improvement Blog about alcohol use patterns in Wisconsin.  In 2014, Wisconsin had the nation’s third-highest rate of adult binge drinking, and Wisconsin residents consume 143 more servings of alcohol than the average U.S. resident every year.

The blog post highlights the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project (WAPP), which was established to provide training and technical assistance to support organizations and local governments working to address unhealthy alcohol use. WAPP provides tools to communities to help them understand how to change their alcohol culture. The project focuses on the “Four A’s”—the four basic factors that shape the alcohol environment: Availability, Attractiveness, Affordability, and Acceptability. The blog post describes specific community initiatives that utilize tools from WAPP to foster a safer alcohol environment.

Read the full blog post here.

JAMA features article on key priorities for the future of health and health care

The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) recently published an article titled, “Vital Directions for Health and Health Care: Priorities from a National Academy of Medicine [NAM] Initiative.” The article is the culmination of a NAM synthesis of 19 commissioned papers, supplemented by review and analysis of published data and research findings. The 19 papers identified eight vital policy directions necessary to the country’s health and fiscal future, including four action priorities. One of the priorities is “Better Health and Well-Being,” and within that category, authors note that one objective is to improve access to effective care for people who have mental health and substance use disorders. Authors conclude that the priorities outlined in this article will be “essential for achieving significant progress” in health and health care.

Access the JAMA article here.

Upcoming Events

ASAM hosts first Treatment Gap Awareness Week

The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) will be hosting the first ever Addiction Treatment Gap Awareness Week next week, April 24th to 30th. The week will be dedicated to recognizing the gap in treatment for individuals with a substance use disorder. In observance of the week, ASAM is hosting a webinar to help physicians learn about the process of becoming certified and treating addiction.

Register for the webinar here.

Learn more about the Addiction Treatment Gap Week here.

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.

D.C. Update – April 13, 2017

 

Capitol Hill Happenings

Around the Agencies

Upcoming Events

Stakeholder Spotlight

 

Capitol Hill Happenings

ONDCP responds to House Energy and Commerce Committee inquiry on fentanyl

On February 23rd, bipartisan leaders of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter to Kemp Chester, then-Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) focused on fentanyl. Specifically, the letter requested ONDCP’s assistance in questioning federal agencies about their plans to address the synthetic opioid fentanyl. ONDCP has responded to the Committee’s request, answering the fifteen questions related to fentanyl trafficking, overdose deaths, and enforcement efforts. In the response to Committee leadership, ONDCP highlights to role of the National Heroin Coordination Group (NHCG), which works to reduce the availability of both heroin and fentanyl simultaneously.

Read the original letter from Energy and Commerce Committee leadership here.

Read ONDCP’s response here.

Around the Agencies

New SAMHSA resource on effective reentry practices for individuals with MH and SUDs returning to the community from jail or prison

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a resource on transition planning for people with mental and substance use disorders leaving jail or prison. The Guidelines for Successful Transition of People with Mental or Substance Use Disorders from Jail and Prison: Implementation Guide was developed to provide practitioners with knowledge to support implementation of successful strategies for transitioning people with behavioral health conditions from jail and prison into the community. The new SAMHSA guidelines provide examples of successful strategies for transitioning people with mental or substance use disorders from correctional settings into the community.  The guide promotes the Assess, Plan, Identify, and Coordinate (APIC) approach to identifying various successful evidenced-based strategies that work across jurisdictional systems.

SAMHSA is hosting a webinar to provide an overview of the guide On April 20th at 2pm EST. Register for the webinar here.

Access the guidelines here.

CMS announces 32 recipients of Accountable Health Communities (ACH) cooperative agreement awards

Last week the Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS) Innovation Center announced 32 recipients of Accountable Health Communities (AHC) cooperative agreement awards. The awards will support local communities in addressing the health-related social needs of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries by bridging the gap between clinical and community service providers. The 32 communities are in the following States: AZ, CO, CT, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, MI, MN, MS, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, TN, TX, VA, and WV.

The AHC cooperative agreement awards have three tracks: 1) Awareness Track – Increase beneficiary awareness of available community services through information dissemination and referral; 2) Assistance Track – Provide community service navigation services to assist high-risk beneficiaries with accessing services to address health-related social needs; and 3) Alignment Track – Encourage partner alignment to ensure that community services are available and responsive to the needs of the beneficiaries. The 32 new awardees fall into either the Assistance or Alignment track.

For a full list of recipients, click here.

To learn more about the AHC initiative, click here.

Upcoming Events

CADCA webinar on effective media messages to reduce impaired driving

The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) is hosting a webinar on “How Coalitions Can Coordinate with Law Enforcement Agencies to Create Effective Media Messages to Help Reduce Impaired Driving.” The webinar will provide support in developing media messages designed to raise the visibility of enforcement operations to reduce impaired driving. The intended audience is coalitions, prevention organizations, and law enforcement agencies. The webinar will help participants: understand the main purpose of creating enforcement visibility; identify effective and ineffective messages; recognize the best messages and media for reaching specific primary audiences; learn how prevention organizations and coalitions can create visibility in coordination with enforcement operations of local and state police agencies; and distinguish between paid, earned, and social media types. The webinar will be held on April 20th from 1:00-2:30pm EST.

Register for the webinar here.

Upcoming webinar on role of faith communities in supporting families impacted by addiction

The National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence (NCADD), Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), and the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC), are hosting a webinar series on how faith communities can strengthen their efforts to support the healing of individuals and families hurt by the addiction epidemic in our country. The webinars are supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  The first webinar, Addiction and the Faith Community, will be presented in two parts: Part 1: Faith Communities Respond; and Part 2: Children of the Opioid Epidemic. The webinar will be held on Thursday, April 27th at 2:00pm EST.

Register for the webinar here.

Webinar on the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s (ASAM) Criteria for Clinical and Program Standards

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a webinar entitled “Introduction to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria for Clinical and Program Standards.” The webinar will provide an overview of the substance use disorder treatment care continuum and standards described in the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) Criteria. The webinar will provide an overview of all the ASAM Criteria levels of care, and then focus specifically on complex levels of care, including withdrawal management, early intervention, partial hospitalization, and clinically managed low-intensity residential services. The webinar will be held on Wednesday, April 19th from 3:30pm– 5:00pm EST.

Register for the webinar here.

 

Stakeholder Spotlight

The D.C. Update from the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) is now featuring a “Stakeholder Spotlight” to highlight the work of a stakeholder group with which NASADAD works closely. The Spotlight will include background on an organization that impacts the substance use disorder field and describe NASADAD’s collaborative efforts with them. This week we’re catching up with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR).

Catching Up with the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR)

Founded in 2011, the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR) is a nonprofit recovery community organization (RCO) that currently serves 25 regional affiliate organizations. These affiliate organizations collectively support over 25,000 individuals who in recovery from a substance use disorder. NARR’s mission is to support individuals who are in recovery by improving their access to quality recovery residences through standards, support services, placement, education, research and advocacy.

NARR’s affiliate members vary in age, size, experience, regional environments, and development needs. NARR hosts an open call every month for affiliate peers and stakeholders to share successes and challenges related to recovery residences, pose questions and answers, and gain national and local perspectives. NARR provides its affiliate standards, white papers, and advocacy support on its website. Additionally, NARR offers training and technical assistance to help develop a State/regional organization or provide ongoing support to existing affiliates.

NASADAD is appreciative of NARR’s work to support individuals in recovery and increase their access to recovery residences. In particular, we are grateful for the leadership of NARR’s president, Dave Sheridan.

To learn more about NARR, click here.

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.

D.C. Update – March 30, 2017

 

Around the Agencies

In the News

News from the States

Stakeholder Spotlight

 

Around the Agencies

NIDA announces teen, teacher, and parent advisory groups to provide feedback on “NIDA for Teens” resources

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is forming teacher, teen, and parent advisory groups to get input on the “NIDA for Teens” resources and initiatives. The three advisory groups will provide feedback on existing and new NIDA materials and discuss how NIDA can expand its reach to those who would benefit most from the NIDA for Teens resources. Applicants for the teen advisory group must be students currently enrolled in grades 6 to 10. The teacher advisory group applicants must be teachers or school counselors who currently teach or work directly with students in grades 6 to 11. The parents advisory group applicants must be parents and guardians of at least one student who is enrolled in grades 6 to 11. NIDA advisory groups will meet virtually a maximum of three times between April and December of 2017. Each online meeting will last about 1 hour.

Those who are interested in applying to participate in an advisory group should send an email to NIDAadvisorygroups@iqsolutions.com to request an application. Applications are due April 7, 2017.

Access the existing NIDA for Teens resources here.

In the News

Richard Baum named as new Acting Director of ONDCP

On Tuesday, the Administration announced that Richard Baum will replace Kemp Chester as the Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) until a permanent director is appointed and confirmed by the Senate. Acting Director Baum has worked at ONDCP for almost twenty years, most recently as Chief of the International Division. In a White House press release on the announcement, Mr. Baum stated, “In my two decades of service at ONDCP, I’ve seen the heart-breaking suffering caused by illegal drugs, as well as the incredible work of dedicated individuals working to address drug abuse and its consequences. I look forward to continuing that work.”

The AIDS Institute commends National Academies of Sciences’ strategy to eliminate HBV and HCV

Earlier this week, the AIDS Institute issued a press release commending the recently released National Strategy for the Elimination of Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) report, which was authored by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The report identifies barriers to eliminating HBV and HCV, and outlines actions necessary for reducing rates of the viruses. The AIDS Institute highlights that the top recommendation in the report is for the federal government to oversee a coordinated effort to manage hepatitis elimination.

Read the full press release here.

Governing magazine highlights bill on unemployment drug testing that President is expected to sign

Earlier this week, Governing magazine featured an article titled, “What the Unemployment Drug-Testing Bill on Trump’s Desk Means for States.” The article describes that although States were historically forbidden from drug testing unemployment insurance applicants, last year the Obama Administration finalized rules passed by Congress that allowed States to conduct such drug testing under certain circumstances. Last week, a joint resolution was presented to President Trump that would allow for the previous Administration’s rules to be rewritten to broaden the circumstances under which drug testing would be permissible. The article outlines the potential impact that the revision of rules could have by allowing States to require drug testing for unemployment insurance programs.

Read the full Governing article here.

APGSA encourages gambling prevention and treatment as Problem Gambling Awareness Month comes to an end

The Association of Problem Gambling Services Administrators (APGSA) published a document earlier this week titled, “Problem Gambling Awareness Month Ends with March Madness.” In the midst of March Madness, the APGSA offers a reminder that sports-related gambling events are a time for “States and communities to raise awareness of gambling as a health issue and a potentially dangerous past-time for some.” The document describes the correlation between problem gambling and mental health and substance use disorders. APGSA also offers tips on how safely and responsibly gamble.

The APGSA document is attached to this email.

News from the States

Maryland legislature works to pass opioid bills before legislative session ends

The Maryland State legislature is working quickly to pass a package of bills aimed at addressing the opioid crisis before the legislative session ends. Lawmakers have introduced over 30 bills to address the crisis, in response to the 317 prescription opioid overdose deaths last year. The proposals, many of which have been consolidated in recent weeks, focus on prevention, treatment, law enforcement, insurance coverage, and public awareness.

One of the proposals, the HOPE Act, would establish new crisis-treatment centers throughout Maryland; require the State to increase its reimbursement rates for substance use disorder clinics every year; request a funding increase in the governor’s next budget to expand drug-court programs; and allow individuals to administer naloxone without training. Another bill would require public schools to keep naloxone on school premises; authorize school nurses and other health personnel to administer naloxone; mandate that colleges educate incoming students about addiction; and require that degrees for many health occupations include instruction about addiction treatment and safe pain management.

Read more about the Maryland legislature’s efforts here.

Montgomery Co., MD considering establishment of a recovery school for students who have struggled with addiction

Last week the Washington Post featured an article on the potential comeback of a recovery school in Maryland’s Montgomery County. In 1979, possibly the first-ever recovery school in the U.S.—the Phoenix school—opened in Montgomery County, but four years ago the Phoenix school closed its doors. However, the Post article notes that as the opioid crisis continues, the idea of a recovery school in the Washington, DC suburb is being reconsidered. In addition to academic classes, the Phoenix school offered group counseling, random drug testing, 12-step programs, peer support, and outdoor experiential learning. There are currently 38 recovery schools across the country, with several more expected to open within the next year.

Read the full Washington Post article here.

Stakeholder Spotlight

The D.C. Update from the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD) is now featuring a “Stakeholder Spotlight” to highlight the work of a stakeholder group with which NASADAD works closely. The Spotlight will include background on an organization that impacts the substance use disorder field and describe NASADAD’s collaborative efforts with them. This week we’re catching up with the Society for Prevention Research (SPR).

Catching Up with the Society for Prevention Research (SPR)

The Society for Prevention Research (SPR), which was established in 1991, is an international membership organization dedicated to “advancing scientific investigation on the etiology and prevention of social, physical and mental health, and academic problems and on the translation of that information to promote health and wellbeing.” The members of SPR include scientists, practitioners, advocates, administrators, and policy makers who conduct and disseminate of prevention science.

SPR has six overarching goals as part of its mission: 1) Promote etiological and program development research and research on existing and emerging public health and well‐being problems; 2) Promote High‐Quality Prevention Science as integral to health care, social services, and education and toward national level system of EBP based prevention; 3) Influence Prevention Policy; 4) Promote prevention research to reduce disparities and inequality; 5) Communication with members, prevention researchers, policy makers, and the public; and 6) Increase the diversity of its membership.

NASADAD is appreciative of SPR’s commitment to science-based prevention strategies, as well as the leadership of SPR’s President, Dr. Richard Catalano of the University of Washington, and Executive Director, Jennifer Lewis. In particular, we are grateful for their presentation at the NASADAD Board of Directors meeting held in Washington, DC earlier this month. We will continue to coordinate with SPR on issues related to substance use disorder prevention.

Learn more about SPR here.

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.

D.C. Update – March 22, 2017

 

In the News

News from NASADAD

Around the Agencies

 

In the News

Partnership for Drug-Free Kids launches new website

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids recently launched an updated website. The new website is customized specifically for “a parent’s journey from discovery to recovery; through relapse and ongoing struggles; from the teen years to young adulthood.” The website offers information and resources, as well as an online support community for parents who have a child struggling with a substance use disorder.

Some of the new online services and resources include: an online pilot chat program available on nights and weekends to give parents more opportunities to reach out for help and receive support; a new section outlining the types of treatment that are available for teens and young adults; and a compilation of tips on self-care for parents.

See the updated website here.

American Association of Poison Control Centers releases new online poison help triage tool

The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) has launched PoisonHelp.org, a new interactive online poisoning triage tool. Poisoning is the leading cause of injury death in the United States, due in large part to the increasing prevalence of opioid use, as well as pediatric poisoning hazards such as marijuana edibles and liquid nicotine. While triage through the national Poison Help hotline has been available for many decades, the online tool offers an alternative, and because it is mobile device-optimized, it can be accessed on smart phones.

The tool prompts users to answer a few questions about exposure products and substances, and then the site uses algorithms to offer a recommendation for the user. Input fields include substance, route of exposure, and some basic information about the exposed person.

View the new online tool here.

News from NASADAD

NASADAD presents at National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems Annual Meeting       

On March 20th, Robert Morrison, NASADAD Executive Director, served as a panelist during the opening day of the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems’ (NAPHS) annual meeting held in Washington, D.C.  The session’s title was “A stakeholder discussion on addiction treatment trends: Working toward greater integration among addiction, behavioral health, and general medicine.”  Other speakers included Jeffrey Hills, President, AdCare Hospital of Worcester, Mass; Kelly Clark, MD, president elect of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM); Carol McDaid, principal, Capital Decisions, Inc.; and Mark Covall, president/CEO, National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems (NAPHS) moderated the session.  Panelists discussed issues such as: 1) medication-assisted treatment; 2) funding from the 21st Century Cures bill for opioid services; and 3) parity and the work of the Parity Implementation Coalition and other issues.

To learn more about the Parity Implementation Coalition, visit https://parityispersonal.org/

To learn more about NAPHS, please visit https://www.naphs.org/home

NASADAD joins other groups during Coalition for Health Funding’s New Member Hill Day

On March 15th, Robert Morrison, NASADAD Executive Director, joined representatives from other health-related groups to educate new Hill offices regarding the benefits of health funding – including programs managed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other operational divisions.  Rob joined representatives from the Infectious Disease Society of America; American Society of Hematology; American Academy of Pediatrics; and National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors.  Rob noted, in particular, the importance of programs managed by SAMHSA, including the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block, a program that provides support for substance use disorder services and programs to all states and territories.  Other teams composed of various members of the Coalition visited with other offices.  The event was organized by the Coalition for Health Funding, an organization that educates on the importance of federal investments in health programs across the continuum.

To learn more about the Coalition, visit http://www.publichealthfunding.org/

Around the Agencies

CDC releases data showing declining infant mortality rates over past decade

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a data brief on trends in infant mortality in the United States from 2005–2014. This brief uses data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) to describe trends in infant mortality by race, Hispanic origin, State, and leading causes of infant death. Over the past decade, the overall infant mortality rate in the United States has declined 15%, from 6.86 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005, to 5.82 in 2014.

From 2005-2014, eleven states and D.C. had declines in infant mortality rates of at least 16.0%. Declines of more than 20.0% were observed in Connecticut, South Carolina, Colorado, and D.C. During that same ten-year period, the infant mortality rate for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) declined 29%, which was the largest decline observed among the top five leading causes of infant death. Other leading causes of death were congenital malformations, short gestation and low birth weight, maternal complications, and unintentional injuries.

SAMHSA releases Spotlight Series to highlight approaches to building trauma-informed communities

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a series of publications as part of its SAMHSA Spotlight. The SAMHSA Spotlight series highlights different approaches to building trauma-informed communities, based on a “listening session” held in May 2015. During the listening session, SAMHSA aimed to learn how different localities are building trauma-informed communities.

The SAMHSA Spotlight highlights the work of six of the communities that participated in the listening session, including three large cities (Philadelphia, PA; Kansas City, MO and KS; and San Francisco, CA), a small city (Tarpon Springs, FL), a rural community (Walla Walla, WA), and an urban city (Worcester, MA). Each Spotlight explores strategies for developing trauma-informed communities and discusses the consequences of trauma and adversity for clients.

The following publications are now available as part of the Spotlight series:

 

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.