Around the Agencies

• GAO report suggests HHS develop comprehensive approach to healthcare workforce development
• SAMHSA seeks comments on National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices
• SAMHSA seeks comments on updated Synar reporting questions and format

In the News

• Pew Charitable Trusts article outlines support and resistance surrounding medication-assisted treatment

Upcoming Events

• Faces & Voices of Recovery announce two webinars discussing mobilization of recovery community
• Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation announces webinar on using SBIRT to help teens with substance use disorders

News from NASADAD

• NASADAD sends letter to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy thanking him for participation at NPN Conference and offering recommendations for upcoming Surgeon General’s report on substance use
• NASADAD releases section-by-section analysis of Appropriations to Address the Heroin and Opioid Drug Abuse Epidemic (S. 2423)

Around the Agencies

GAO report suggests HHS develop comprehensive approach to healthcare workforce development
A U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released last week suggests that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) develop a comprehensive plan for healthcare workforce development. The report finds that HHS currently lacks comprehensive planning and oversight for its seventy-two healthcare workforce programs, and suggests that existing programs may not be sufficient in addressing the nation’s health care workforce needs. The GAO asserts that HHS’s current strategy does not effectively coordinate its agencies and associated stakeholders, leading to inadequate performance measures for tracking the growth of the country’s healthcare workforce.  According to the report, HHS’s largest workforce development programs unsuccessfully target areas of workforce need, including primary and rural care providers. The GAO recommends that “HHS develop a comprehensive and coordinated planning approach that includes performance measures, identifies any gaps between its workforce programs and national needs, and identifies actions to close these gaps.”

Read the full report here.

SAMHSA seeks comments on National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is requesting comments as it revises its National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) program.  SAMHSA plans to conduct independent literature searches in different program areas related to substance use disorders and mental illness.  However, according to SAMHSA, due to limited resources, they will have to prioritize the number of categories they can work on.  In addition to categories listed by SAMHSA, there is a section where respondents may add additional ideas.

Please visit here for more information.

Comments are due to SAMHSA by January 29.  If your agency submits comments, NASADAD would appreciate seeing your ideas and recommendations by January 22^nd. Comments can be sent to Shalini Wickramatilake-Templeman at swickramatilake@nasadad.org. NASADAD will then work with leadership to determine whether the Association will offer comments.

SAMHSA seeks comments on updated Synar reporting questions and format
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is currently seeking comments on proposed changes to the Annual Synar Report. Synar Reports require State agencies to submit information describing the enforcement of laws regulating tobacco products. The proposed changes clarify reporting requirements for States in an effort to decrease the need for supplemental questions once the reports have been submitted. New questions regarding State reporting protocols and methodologies have been added to bolster communication between SAMHSA and State agencies.

To see the Notice, please visit here.

Comments are due to SAMHSA by February 26^th to Summer King, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 2–1057, One Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857, or email a copy to: summer.king@samhsa.hhs.gov

If your agency submits comments, NASADAD would appreciate seeing your recommendations, or being CC’d on letters sent to SAMHSA by February 19^th (swickramatilake@nasadad.org).  NASADAD will then work with leadership to determine whether the Association will offer comments.

In the News

Pew Charitable Trusts article outlines support and resistance surrounding medication-assisted treatment
The Pew Charitable Trusts released an article last week on barriers to the provision of medication-assisted treatment. The article states that despite evidence of treatment success, medications such as buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone remain unavailable at more than two-thirds of substance use disorder clinics and treatment centers. This lack of supply is partially attributed to the societal stigma labeling substance use disorders as a moral failing rather than a medical problem. The article highlights several other factors contributing to the lack of access to medication-assisted treatment, including too few health care professionals specializing in substance use disorder treatment, limited insurance coverage through both private insurers and State Medicaid programs, and profit concerns of private residential facilities. The article concludes with an overview of the existing State and federal statutes regulating medications used in treatment programs.

Read the full article here.

Upcoming Events

Faces & Voices of Recovery announce two webinars discussing mobilization of recovery community
Faces & Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) has announced two webinars on the mobilization of the recovery community. The first webinar will be held on Thursday, January 21^st from 3-4PM EST, and will feature commentary from Shannon Egan, Director of Communications and Development at Utah Support Advocates for Recovery Awareness (USARA), on how to best utilize social media for recovery community awareness campaigns. The second webinar will be held on Thursday, February 18 from 3-4 PM EST, and will discuss the organization of the recovery community into a voting constituency for the November 2016 elections. Laszlo Jaress, Program Development Coordinator at Faces & Voices of Recovery, will speak during the webinar on the importance of making the recovery community’s voice heard.

Register for the January 21^st webinar here.

Register for the February 18^th webinar here.

Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation announces webinar on using SBIRT to help teens with substance use disorders
The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has announced a webinar focusing on the use of evidence-based screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) to help teens with substance use disorders.  Ken Winters, PhD, Research Psychologist and Advisor at the Institute for Translational Research in Children’s Mental Health at the University of Minnesota will lead the discussion. Dr. Winters will review his Teen Intervene SBIRT model that integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational interviewing into the treatment regimen. The webinar will be held on Thursday, January 28^th from 1-2 PM EST.

Register for the free webinar here.

News from NASADAD

NASADAD sends letter to Surgeon General Vivek Murthy thanking him for participation at NPN Conference and offering recommendations for upcoming Surgeon General’s report on substance use
Last week the NASADAD Board of Directors sent a letter to United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy thanking him for participating in the 2015 National Prevention Network (NPN) Conference in Seattle, WA. The letter expressed NASADAD’s gratitude for Dr. Murthy’s keynote remarks during the conference, as well as the Board of Directors’ appreciation for Dr. Murthy’s decision to draft the first ever Surgeon General’s Report on substance use, addiction, and health. The letter included Board recommendations for the report, which include highlighting the important role of State substance abuse agencies, and maintaining a dialogue with NASADAD members throughout the drafting process. The report is expected to be released this fall.

NASADAD releases section-by-section analysis of Appropriations to Address the Heroin and Opioid Drug Abuse Epidemic (S. 2423)
NASADAD released a section-by-section analysis of Senator Shaheen’s (D-NH) Appropriations to Address the Heroin and Opioid Drug Abuse Epidemic (S. 2423) last week. The legislation would appropriate $200 million in additional funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, as well as $10 million for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program for States with high rates of opioid-related primary treatment admissions. The bill would also provide $225 million in funding increases for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant program, $10 million for The Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction program of the Programs of Regional and National Significance (PRNS) within the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAP), and $5 million for CSAP’s Recovery Community Services Program for the development of Statewide peer-to-peer recovery support networks. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) would also receive supplemental funds improve opioid use disorder prevention and treatment.

Read NASADAD’s section-by-section summary here.

Read the full text of S. 2423 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.

News from the States

• Ohio announces funding recipients of Child of Incarcerated Parents (CIP) initiative

Around the Agencies

• CSAP seeks comments on proposed changes to Annual Synar Report for FY 2017-2019
• NIAAA updates Alcohol Policy Information System
• AHRQ report suggests that health information exchange impact not yet fully understood
• SAMHSA releases new mobile substance use disorder and mental health resources

In the News

• President Obama vetoes bill that would repeal parts of Affordable Care Act
• Health Information Technology Policy Committee submits interoperability recommendations to Congress
• Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network launches Center of Excellence for Pregnant and Parenting Women
• Harvard Kennedy School of Government announces Innovation in American Government Awards grant program

Upcoming Events

• ONDCP, SAMHSA, and HHS host webinar on role of faith-based groups in addressing substance use disorders
• NIDA National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week materials

News from the States

Ohio announces funding recipients of Child of Incarcerated Parents (CIP) initiative
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) Office of Prevention and Wellness announced the funding recipients of its Children of Incarcerated Parents (CIP) initiative last week. The CIP initiative seeks to provide one-time funding to programs and organizations working to develop substance use disorder and trauma support systems for children of incarcerated parents. Almost $2 million in funding was awarded to the Federation of Urban Minority Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Outreach Programs (UMADAOPs) to create and develop support programs using the Creating Lasting Families Connections curriculum. Additionally, $400,000 in funding was awarded to the Ohio University Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs to track outcomes and evaluate the integration of the Creating Lasting Family Connections curriculum into Ohio’s broader re-entry policies.

Around the Agencies

CSAP seeks comments on proposed changes to Annual Synar Report for FY 2017-2019
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) is currently seeking comments on proposed changes to the Annual Synar Report. Synar Reports require State agencies to submit information describing the enforcement of laws regulating tobacco products. The proposed changes clarify reporting requirements for States in an effort to decrease the need for supplemental questions once the reports have been submitted. New questions regarding State reporting protocols and methodologies have been added to bolster communication between SAMHSA and State agencies.

Read the full list of proposed changes here.

NIAAA updates Alcohol Policy Information System

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) released an update to its Alcohol Policy Information System (APIS) late last month. APIS contains information on each State’s alcohol policies as of January 1, 2015. Last month’s update features new information on several State statutes and regulations.

Access APIS here.

AHRQ report suggests that health information exchange impact not yet fully understood
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a report in late December suggesting that the full impact of electronic health information exchange (HIE) on patient outcomes is not yet fully understood. The report found that 75 percent of U.S. hospitals engaged in electronic sharing of health information with outside providers in 2014, which is an 85 percent increase since 2008. In 2012, only 39 percent of office-based health providers were able to utilize HIE. The AHRQ suggests that barriers to using HIE include “difficulties gathering a critical mass of participants, inefficient workflows, and poorly designed interface and update features.” The AHRQ recommends future studies coordinate with one another in order to achieve a comprehensive approach to studying the impact of HIE.

Read the full report here.

SAMHSA releases new mobile behavioral health resources
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) highlighted a series of new mobile behavioral health resource applications last week. The new mobile applications include suicide, bullying, and natural disaster resources; as well as an interactive game application called “Talk. They Hear You,” encouraging communication about underage drinking between parents and their children.

Read more about “Talk. They Hear You” here.

In the News

President Obama vetoes bill that would repeal parts of Affordable Care Act
Last week President Obama vetoed the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act (H.R. 3762). In his veto message, the President noted that the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the legislation would increase the number of uninsured Americans by 22 million after 2017, and that this reduction in health care coverage means that 900,000 fewer people would receive the health care services they need each year.

Read President Obama’s entire veto message here.

Read the text of H.R. 3762 here.

Health Information Technology Policy Committee submits interoperability recommendations to Congress
The Health Information Technology Policy Committee, a federal advisory committee to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, submitted recommendations for improving healthcare interoperability to Congress late last month. The recommendations include the development of meaningful measures of health information exchange (HIE) outcomes, including public reporting and vendor performance measures. The committee further recommended setting specific HIE payment incentives incorporating performance measure criteria, and requested the federal government convene a summit of major stakeholders within the public and private sectors.

Read the full report here.

Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network launches Center of Excellence for Pregnant and Parenting Women
The Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC) Network launched their new Center of Excellence for Pregnant and Parenting Women this past week. The new Center aims to bolster the strength of the addictions workforce serving pregnant and parenting women struggling with substance use disorders by developing new national curricula and web-based tools. The Mid-America ATTC will lead the new Center with the help of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies. The first year of the program will focus on the development of infrastructure and new web-based tools, with subsequent years focusing on the dissemination of additional products to all relevant stakeholders.

Read the full announcement here.

Harvard Kennedy School of Government announces Innovation in American Government Awards grant program
The Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation announced the Innovations in American Government Awards grant program last week. The grant program seeks to recognize “government-led programs that demonstrate novel and effective approaches to increasing public engagement and participation in the governance of towns, cities, States, and the nation.” Government entities at all levels (federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial) are eligible to apply for the grant award. Winners of the grant program will receive a $100,000 grant to aid in the continued development of recognized programs, with top finalists also receiving grant awards. Applications are due on April 15, 2016.

Read the full announcement and apply here.

Upcoming Events

ONDCP, SAMHSA, and HHS host webinar on role of faith-based groups in addressing substance use disorders
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will be hosting a webinar on the role of faith-based groups in supporting health and wellness in communities across the country. During the webinar, faith leaders will present on how they are engaging their communities to address substance use disorders. The webinar will be held on Friday, January 15^th from 1:00-2:00 pm EST.

Register for the webinar here.

NIDA National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week materials
In preparation for the National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is offering a variety of print and online educational resources. The Drug & Alcohol Facts Week is a national health observance for teens that uses NIDA science to share facts about drugs. The deadline to request free materials is this Friday, January 15^th.

Materials can be ordered 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.

News from the States

• New York Governor Andrew Cuomo releases new heroin and prescription drug toolkit
• Unite to Face Addiction rally featured on front cover of South Carolina’s Fall 2015 newsletter

Around the Agencies

• SAMHSA accepting applications for Youth Treatment Implementation Grants
• SAMHSA announces Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants
• SAMHSA releases issues brief on heroin prevention strategies
• NIH Strategic Plan now publicly available

In the News

• Every Student Succeeds Act signed into law by President Obama
• Vera Institute of Justice releases new interactive tool tracking mass incarceration
• Jeff Levi leaves Trust for America’s Health

Upcoming News

• SAMHSA and CADCA announce dates for 26^th National Leadership Forum & SAMHSA’s 12^th Prevention Day

News from the States

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo releases new heroin and prescription drug toolkit
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the release of a new heroin and prescription drug toolkit last week. The new “Kitchen Table Toolkit” was released as part of New York’s Combat Heroin and Prescription Opioid Abuse campaign, and contains two videos for parents, teachers, and community members to reference when discussing heroin and prescription opioid misuse with young adults. Both videos discuss the wide-reaching impact of substance use disorders and provide information on how to help those in need receive treatment.

Arlene González-Sánchez, the Commissioner of the New York State Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), has developed various resources to help combat opioid misuse in her State, including the NY State HOPEline, a 24/7 hotline offering motivational interviewing and referrals for those with addiction issues.

Read the announcement of the Kitchen Table Toolkit and view the videos here.

Unite to Face Addiction rally featured on front cover of South Carolina DAODAS’s Fall 2015 newsletter
The Unite to Face Addiction rally held in Washington, DC in October was featured on the South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services’ (DAODAS) Fall 2015 newsletter. The newsletter provides a summary of the rally’s performers and attendees, noting that DAODAS Director Bob Toomey attended the event. The Unite to Face Addiction rally’s organizers assert that one in three American households is affected in some way by substance use disorders. The organizers plan to build a national movement providing a voice for those affected by or living with substance use disorders.

Around the Agencies

SAMHSA accepting applications for Youth Treatment Implementation Grants
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is accepting applications for Cooperative Agreements for Adolescents and Transitional Aged Youth Treatment Implementation grants. The purpose of this grant program is to provide funding to States, Territories, and Tribes to improve treatment for adolescents and transitional aged youth with substance use disorders or co-occurring substance use and mental disorders. The program helps provide youth access to evidence-based assessments, treatment models, and recovery services. SAMHSA expects that grants of up to $800,000, per year for up to three years, will be provided to up to two selected grantees. Applications are due January 26^th, 2016.

To apply, please visit both http://www.grants.gov and the SAMHSA website to download the required documents you will need to complete the application.

SAMHSA announces Drug-Free Communities Support Program Grants
Last week the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced Drug-Free Communities (DFC) grants. The DFC Support Program aims to reduce substance use among youth and adults by addressing the factors in a community that increase the risk of substance abuse and promoting the factors that minimize the risk of substance abuse. Eligible applicants are community-based coalitions addressing youth substance use that have never received a DFC grant.

SAMHSA releases issue brief on heroin prevention strategies
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT) released a new issue brief on heroin prevention strategies last week. The new resource discusses ongoing trends associated with heroin use and prescription drug misuse, and contains a list of data sources for heroin-related information. The brief outlines several promising strategies for confronting the growing prevalence of opioid overdoses throughout the country.

NIH Strategic Plan now publicly available
Last week the National Institutes of Health (NIH) submitted their FY 2016- FY 2020 Strategic Plan to Congress, and it is now publicly available. In the plan, the NIH presents a framework that describes their mission in the context of the changing healthcare landscape. The plan is designed to coordinate decision-making across the Agency, and it will complement, not replace, the strategic plans of the individual Institutes, Centers, and Program Offices, including the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

In the News

Every Student Succeeds Act signed into law by President Obama
Last week Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA; S. 1177), a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This Act includes provisions regarding substance use disorder prevention, and it will provide funding for evidence-based drug prevention in schools. The passage of the ESSA does not appropriate a specific amount of money towards drug prevention, but it does require local educational agencies to use at least 20% of academic enrichment grant funding for drug and violence prevention.

Read the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) overview of ESSA here.

Vera Institute of Justice releases new interactive tool tracking mass incarceration
Last week the Vera Institute of Justice released a new interactive tool for tracking mass incarceration growth between 1970 and 2014. A report discussing mass incarceration and a related fact sheet accompanied the release of the new tool. The Vera Institute found that since 1970 the number of individuals held in jail increased four-fold from 157,000 to 690,000 per year. Jail populations were observed to grow more quickly than prison populations, especially in small and mid-sized counties across the country. The report asserts that African Americans comprise approximately 40 percent of the jail population, and that the number of incarcerated women rose fourteen-fold from 8,000 women in 1970 to 110,000 women in 2014.

Access the tool here.

Access the report here.

Access the fact sheet here.

Jeff Levi leaves Trust for America’s Health
Jeff Levi, Executive Director of Trust for America’s Health (TFAH), will be returning to academia full-time in his position as professor of Health Policy and Management at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University. During his time as Executive Director, Dr. Levi prioritized issues ranging from obesity to HIV/AIDS. Rich Hamburg will serve as Interim President and CEO until Dr. Levi’s position is filled long-term.

Upcoming Events

SAMHSA and CADCA announce dates for 26^th National Leadership Forum & SAMHSA’s 12^th Prevention Day
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) announced the dates for the 26^th National Leadership Forum last week. The event will be held from February 1-4, 2016 at the Gaylord National Hotel & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The conference will feature a number of presentations from substance use disorder professionals on recent research as well as several training workshops.

Access more information and register for the event 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.

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.