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CapitolHill, Public View

D.C. Update – April 26, 2016

April 26, 2016 aaa

In the News

FY 2017 Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations Bill Clears Senate Appropriations Committee
House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce holds markup on H.R. 3691, the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act
UnitedHealth Group solidifies plans to exit health insurance marketplaces
AP report suggests increased amount of banks and credit unions working with marijuana-related businesses
S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee leaders submit letter to CMS calling for increased data transparency

Around the Agencies

CDC FY 2015 grant funding profiles now available
SAMHSA releases applications for FY 2016 Statewide Peer Networks for Recovery and Resiliency grant program

News from NASADAD

NASADAD sends thank you letter to AMA for work with NGA
NASADAD Presents to Joint NACo/League of Cities Task Force on Opioid Epidemic

Upcoming Events

Community Catalyst announces informative call on the intersections between health and housing for vulnerable populations

In the News

FY 2017 Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations Bill Clears Senate Appropriations Committee
After clearing the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, on April 21^st the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved a $56.3 billion spending bill for programs related to national security, law enforcement, and scientific innovation. This is $563 million more than FY 2016 and $1.6 billion more than the President’s request. The bill was approved by the Committee with a vote of 30-0.

Some of the highlights for programs within the Department of Justice (DOJ) include:

$2.36 billion for state and local law enforcement and crime prevention grant programs, which includes grants for State law enforcement and juvenile justice programs;
$384 million for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG), which is a $92 million dollar cut compared to FY 2016. However, the FY 2016 appropriations included a $100 million carve out to cover extra costs of security at the two presidential nominating conventions. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s recommendation is $500,000 higher than the President’s request for FY 2017;
$43 million in support for Drug Courts, a $1 million increase in funding for FY 2017 compared to FY 2016;
$6 million for Veterans Treatment Courts, which is level funding compared to FY 2016;
$75 million for Second Chance Act grants to reduce recidivism for adults released from jail by offering substance abuse treatment, employment assistance, and other rehabilitation services. This is a $7 million increase in funding for FY 2017 compared to FY 2016, and $25 million less than the President’s request;
$10 million for Community Oriented Policing Systems (COPS) Office Anti-Heroin Task Forces grants;
$7 million for COPS Office Anti-Methamphetamine Task Forces grants; and
$410 million increase in funding for FY 2017 for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) compared to FY 2016.
- Includes $12.5 million for four new heroin enforcement squads within the DEA.

A summary of proposed funding levels and a comparison to FY 2016 levels is attached here.

House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce holds markup on H.R. 3691, the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act
On April 20^th the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health within the Committee on Energy and Commerce held a markup of twelve bills related to opioid use disorders, including H.R. 3691, the Improving Treatment for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Act. The subcommittee is led by Chairman Joseph Pitts (R-PA) and Ranking Member Gene Green (D-TX).

H.R. 3691 would reauthorize the residential services for pregnant and postpartum women program (PPW) grant program within SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT). The bill would also create a pilot program for State substance abuse agencies to use up to 25 percent of funds for services to pregnant and parenting women in non-residential settings. The purpose of the pilot program is to fill gaps in family-centered services across the continuum of care. A section-by-section summary of the bill can be found here.

During the markup, Congressman Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), who introduced H.R. 3691 in October of 2015, spoke about the pervasiveness of addiction, including in his own district, and the importance of increasing access to treatment for women. Chairman Pitts also expressed support of the bill, especially the provision to provide family-based treatment services.

Other proposed legislation considered during the markup were:

R. 4641, To provide for the establishment of an inter-agency task force to review, modify, and update best practices for pain management and prescribing pain medication, and for other purposes
R. 3680, Co-Prescribing to Reduce Overdoses Act of 2015
R. 1818, Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act
R. 3250, DXM Abuse Prevention Act
R. 4969, John Thomas Decker Act of 2016
R. 4586, Lali’s Law
R. 4599, Reducing Unused Medications Act of 2016
R. 4978, Nurturing and Supporting Healthy Babies Act
R. 4976, Opioid Review Modernization Act
Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Expansion and Modernization Act
Examining Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Act of 2016

All of the bills are being considered by the full Committee on Energy and Commerce this week. NASADAD will continue to track relevant legislation and provide updates to membership.

UnitedHealth Group solidifies plans to exit health insurance marketplaces
UnitedHealth Group has solidified plans to exit the health insurance marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act, announcing their intention to stop service in nearly 34 States. CEO Stephen Hemsley states that the overall market size and high risk of health insurance marketplaces prevents UnitedHealth Group from continuing to serve public exchanges. The Kaiser Family Foundation released a report asserting that, if UnitedHealth Group were to leave all 1,855 counties where it currently participates, “29% of the counties would be left with just one marketplace insurer and another 29% would be left with just two.” The report goes on to caution that areas with limited insurer availability may not realize the cost savings seen in regions with a larger number of insurers.

Read UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley’s statement here.

Read the Kaiser Family Foundation report here.

AP report suggests increased amount of banks and credit unions working with marijuana-related businesses
An Associated Press (AP) report released last week finds that the number of banks and credit unions working with marijuana-related businesses has increased from 51 in March 2014 to 301 in March 2016 according to federal data. Marijuana businesses have experienced barriers in response to federal regulations constricting their ability to store money in banks, leading many retailers to work with local credit unions instead of larger banking institutions. Credit card companies remain wary of accepting marijuana-related transactions in fear of federal liability. These restrictions have forced many businesses to only accept cash, in turn requiring revenue departments in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon to prepare for large cash deposits by increasing security.

Read the full article here.

U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee leaders submit letter to CMS calling for increased data transparency
Leaders from the House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means submitted a letter to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last week calling for increased mental health data transparency. The letter specifically calls for CMS to publish more data about the mental health of Medicare beneficiaries in order for health care providers to better address the needs of seniors, while still maintaining patient privacy. Ways and Means leaders assert that increased transparency will allow Congress to make better decisions related to the mental health of Medicare beneficiaries. Leaders from both parties signed the letter, including Chairman Kevin Brady (R-TX), Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-MI), Health Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi (R-OH), and Health Subcommittee Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA).

Read the full letter here.

Around the Agencies

CDC FY 2015 grant funding profiles now available
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released FY 2015 grant funding profiles last week. The funding profiles provide summaries of CDC cooperative agreement and grant funding programs to States, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia after close out of the fiscal year. Funding profiles are sortable by funding opportunity announcement, funding source, geography, and recipient type and name – and include a number of substance use disorder related grant programs.

Access the grant funding profiles here.

SAMHSA releases applications for FY 2016 Statewide Peer Networks for Recovery and Resiliency grant program
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released applications for the Statewide Peer Networks for Recovery and Resiliency grant program last week. The program is administered with the help of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) and the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS). The Statewide Peer Networks for Recovery and Resiliency Grant Program provides funding for the development of increased cross-system collaboration, peer workforce expansion, and increased treatment infrastructure for substance use disorders. The grant program will award up to eight awards of approximately $100,000 for a one year period. Applications are due by Tuesday, June 21, 2016.

Access the full application here.

News from NASADAD

NASADAD sends thank you letter to AMA for work with NGA
NASADAD sent a letter to the American Medical Association (AMA) last week expressing gratitude for their statement on the opioid crisis released in collaboration with the National Governors Association (NGA). The AMA and NGA released a statement about the opioid crisis in February 2016, calling for increased investment in prescription drug monitoring programs, increased substance use disorder training for health professionals, and expanded access to naloxone. NASADAD’s letter thanks both organizations for their work in this area and affirms NASADAD’s support for the recommendations outlined in the joint letter, especially with regard to closing the treatment gap. NASADAD’s letter is attached to this email.

Read the joint AMA/NGA statement here.

NASADAD Presents to Joint NACo/League of Cities Task Force on Opioid Epidemic
On April 7^th, Robert Morrison, NASADAD’s Executive Director, presented to the National City-County Task Force on the Opioid Epidemic – a panel made up of representatives from the National Association of Counties (NACo) and National League of Cities (NLC). The event was the first gathering for the panel. The 24 member Task Force is led by co-chairs Judge Gary Moore of Boone County, Kentucky and Mayor Mark Stodola of Little Rock, Arkansas. The panel hopes to encourage further collaboration at the local level and generate recommendations for federal policy makers to consider to help local governments address the opioid crisis. Robert Morrison educated the Task Force regarding the publicly funded prevention, treatment and recovery system; the benefits of collaborating with State alcohol/drug authority directors; and the need to ensure that any plan and initiative includes a commitment to primary prevention. The Task Force includes Greg Puckett, Commissioner in Mercer County, West Virginia, who described his work as a lead of a community anti-drug coalition. Finally, Morrison encouraged the Task Force to not only engage in actions focused on opioids, but to consider actions that would address addiction in general.

Learn more about the Task Force here.

Upcoming Events

Community Catalyst announces informative call on the intersections between health and housing for vulnerable populations
Community Catalyst has announced a new informative call discussing the intersections between health and housing for vulnerable populations. The call will examine current policies and research involving housing and feature presentations from several stakeholders. Community Catalyst recognizes an opportunity to collaborate with stakeholders and other organizations in the social justice movement so support the work of healthcare advocates working to expand access to housing. The call will be held on Wednesday, May 11^th from 1-2:30 PM EST.

RSVP for the call here.

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.

CapitolHill, Public View

D.C. Update – April 19, 2016

April 22, 2016 aaa

News from the States

Ohio announces new strategies for addressing the opioid epidemic
Minnesota health home successes highlighted in new Governing article
Tennessee becomes first State with CMS-approved HCBS Statewide transition plan

Around the Agencies

Sixty Senators caution CMS to delay the release of hospital quality star ratings
CDC releases updated child abuse and neglect prevention resources

In the News

New Hilton Foundation, Washington Post articles highlight recent developments in youth alcohol prevention
National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine releases report on hepatitis B and C
New study finds alarming rates of alcohol use disorders and mental health conditions within the U.S. legal profession
MacArthur Foundation announces $25 million in criminal justice reform grant programs
Legal Action Center releases report on usage of medication-assisted treatment in drug courts

News from NASADAD

NASADAD attends APA briefing on collaborative care models for mental health and substance use disorders

Upcoming Events

ASTHO announces webinar on aligning SIM program implementation with population health needs
Shriver Center announces webinar on housing rights for individuals with criminal records

News from the States

Ohio announces new strategies for addressing the opioid epidemic
Ohio announced new plans to address the opioid epidemic at a press conference last week featuring Lt. Governor Mary Taylor and NASADAD member Tracy Plouck, who is the Director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS). The new plans include licensing pharmacy technicians with the State, increasing the number of methadone clinics, and limiting the length of pain medication prescriptions. The opening of new methadone clinics will be facilitated via a waiver to the current statutory requirement stipulating that a provider be certified in Ohio for two years before becoming a methadone clinic. The recommendations also include plans to expand access to naloxone by allowing facilities that regularly interact with high-risk individuals to carry naloxone on site.

Read the full list of recommendations here.

Minnesota health home successes highlighted in new Governing article
Minnesota’s numerous health home successes were highlighted in a new Governing article published last week. The article follows the announcement of the Comprehensive Primary Care Plus program to shift treatment options to incentivize States to adopt health home models that improve health outcomes and save money. Health home models consolidate primary and specialist care, pharmacy assistance, and mental health and substance use disorder specialists into one site, easing collaboration and information sharing between different types of healthcare providers.

Minnesota began investing in health home models in 2008 under Governor Tim Pawlenty in an effort to cut healthcare costs. The initiative has been a success, with 54 percent of Minnesota’s primary care clinics now certified as health homes, versus 15 percent nationally. The University of Minnesota believes that these health homes have saved the State more than $1 billion dollars over the past five years according to a study published earlier this year. Aside from cost savings, the program has found improved health outcomes, such as 39 percent of asthmatic children treated in health homes experiencing fewer hospitalizations compared to 19 percent in traditional primary care clinics.

Read the article here.

Tennessee becomes first State with CMS-approved HCBS Statewide transition plan
Tennessee’s home and community-based services (HCBS) statewide transition plan was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last week. Tennessee’s plan was the first to be approved by CMS following Tennessee’s completion of systemic assessments and site specific assessments on how the State plans to bring existing HCBS systems into compliance with the final regulations detailed in January 2014. CMS will require Tennessee to provide quarterly written and phone updates to track the State’s progress. CMS further stipulates that Tennessee must work with CMS to identify areas requiring additional scrutiny.

View Tennessee’s approved plan here.

View the HCBS final regulations here.

Around the Agencies

Sixty Senators caution CMS to delay the release of hospital quality star ratings
Sixty Senators representing members of both parties have released a statement urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to delay the April 21^st release of the overall hospital quality star ratings. The Senators assert that while publicly available provider quality data is important, the current star ratings system “may not accurately take into account hospitals that treat patients with low socioeconomic status or multiple chronic conditions.” The Senators also requested more transparency surrounding the methodology used to determine hospitals’ star ratings. A similar letter is currently being circulated in the House of Representatives.

Read the full letter here.

CDC releases updated child abuse and neglect prevention resources
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated versions of their child abuse and neglect prevention services last week. The updates were released in recognition of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The updated resources include new infographics, updated information on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) data collection, maps of State-level ACE data, ACE prevention strategies, and a directory of journal articles related to child abuse and neglect.

Access the resources here.

In the News

New Hilton Foundation, Washington Post articles highlight recent developments in youth alcohol prevention
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Alexa Eggleston published an article last week highlighting recent developments in alcohol use prevention among youth. The article notes that despite the mounting costs and deaths associated with drinking in the United States, 2015 marked the lowest levels of alcohol use among high school youth. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 35 percent of current high school students indicated drinking alcohol at least one day in the past month – a 15 percent decrease from the 50 percent of students indicating past month alcohol use in the mid-1990s.

Much work remains however, as youth alcohol use is strongly associated with alcohol use disorders later in life. Research suggests that individuals who begin drinking before age 15 are “six times more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder than those who begin drinking at or after age 21.” The article recommends increased prevention efforts, including the suggestions made by the Community Preventive Services Task Force such as electronic alcohol screening and brief intervention (eSBI). The Hilton Foundation currently lists substance use prevention as an organizational strategic initiative, and is working to increase awareness and access to treatment.

The Washington Post published an article written by the Vice President of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Steven Casstevens last week in recognition of April as Alcohol Responsibility Month. In the article Mr Casstevens calls for greater parental involvement to reduce rates of underage drinking. The article describes several recent news stories involving parents illegally providing alcohol to minors resulting in arrests or deaths. The 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that “53 percent of current underage drinkers reported family and friends as their source for the alcohol they consumed.”

Read the Hilton Foundation article here.

Read the Washington Post article here.

National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine releases report on hepatitis B and C
The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released a report on hepatitis B and C last week. The report was created in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Viral Hepatitis (DVH) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH). The report contains several recommendations on how to best address the spread of hepatitis B and C in the United States. The Consensus Committee notes that while hepatitis B and C may be able to be eliminated eventually, disease control is a more achievable short-term goal. The report identifies several current barriers to eliminating hepatitis B and C, including sporadic and underfunded surveillance, inconsistent diagnosis, difficulty reaching marginalized populations, and the spread and stigma of hepatitis B and C among individuals who inject drugs.

Read the report here.

New study finds alarming rates of alcohol use disorders and mental health conditions within the U.S. legal profession
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs published a study revealing alarming rates of alcohol use disorders and mental health conditions within the U.S. legal profession last week. The report finds that “21 percent of licensed, employed attorneys qualify as problem drinkers, 28 percent struggle with some level of depression, and 19 percent demonstrate symptoms of anxiety.” Young attorneys were found to exhibit the highest rates of these disorders, reversing previous studies that suggested alcohol use disorder rates increased as individuals progressed in their careers.

Read the full study here.

MacArthur Foundation announces $25 million in criminal justice reform grant programs
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation announced $25 million in new criminal justice reform grant programs last week. The program will award 11 jurisdictions between $1.5 million and $3.5 million to reduce jail populations and address racial disparities within their criminal justice systems. Nine additional jurisdictions will be provided $150,000 in grant funding to continue criminal justice reform and enhance collaboration between cities, counties, and States. The newly announced $25 million is part of a larger MacArthur Foundation initiative named the Safety and Justice Challenge which seeks to facilitate criminal justice reforms at the local level.