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Public View

D.C. Update – September 25, 2014

News from NASADAD

  • NASADAD welcomes new FL State Director, Ute Gazioch
  • NASADAD attends Hill briefing on IMD Exclusion – Steven Baron presents
  • NASADAD attends annual Harold Rogers PDMP meeting

News from the States

  • Governor Cuomo launches “Combat Heroin” campaign

Around the Agencies

  • SAMHSA publishes report on gambling problems
  • SAMHSA announces new suicide prevention mobile app
  • CMS announces report on enrollment

Resources

  • PDMP researchers publish study on the impact of unsolicited reporting
  • ATTC to hold clinical supervision webinar on October 14th

 

News from NASADAD

NASADAD welcomes new FL State Director, Ute Gazioch

Ms. Gazioch previously served as the Mental Health Lead for the Department, responsible for the oversight of Statewide grants and programs as well as providing clinical and programmatic expertise on statewide adult and children’s issues. Ms. Gazioch formerly served as Project Director and then Principal Investigator for the Statewide System of Care Expansion grants, which aims to improve the state’s service delivery system for children and their families. Prior to joining the Department, Ms. Gazioch spent 16 years working with adults, children and families. Ms. Gazioch has extensive experience with direct care provision as well as program development, management and evaluation. While working at Henderson Behavioral Health, she collaborated with Broward County’s One Community Partnership, a SAMHSA funded System of Care site, and successfully implemented high fidelity Wraparound with her teams.

NASADAD attends Hill briefing on IMD Exclusion – Steven Baron presents

Rob Morrison, Executive Director and Colleen Haller, Public Policy Associate attended the briefing hosted by Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH) on September 18th. The briefing discussed the Breaking Addiction Act, which would create a pilot program for some States to eliminate the Medicaid Institutions of Mental Disease (IMD) Exclusion that restricts Medicaid from reimbursing for services received at residential treatment programs with more than 16 beds. Steve Baron, NASADAD member and Director of the DC Department of Behavioral Health, discussed the potential effects of an IMD pilot from a State perspective. Panelists also addressed how including residential treatment centers with more than 16 beds in Medicaid coverage would increase the ability to treat the nation’s growing heroin/opiate epidemic.

Moderator: Becky Vaughn, National Council for Behavioral Health

Panelists:

Wendy Doolittle, McKinley Hall

Steve Baron, DC Department of Behavioral Health

William B. Lawson, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Howard University

NASADAD attends annual Harold Rogers PDMP meeting

Rob Morrison, Executive Director and Colleen Haller, Public Policy Associate attended the annual Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) National Meeting from September 22nd-24th. The three-day national meeting addressed a range of information regarding PDMPs and their increasing presence in combating the prescription drug epidemic. Many agencies were represented, including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Topics included PDMP research, data usage, law enforcement training, prescriber outreach, and PDMP updates from various states. Panelists included Denise O’Donnell, Director of U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance; Dr. H. Westley Clark, Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment at SAMHSA, and Michael Botticelli, Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP).

News from the States

Governor Cuomo launches “Combat Heroin” campaign

On September 22nd, 2014 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the launch of “Combat Heroin,” a campaign intended to inform New Yorkers about the risks of heroin use and opioid misuse, the signs of addiction, and resources available for those struggling with substance use disorders. The campaign launched with a dedicated website primarily targeting parents, adults, and young people. The website features videos from New Yorkers discussing the impact of heroin on their lives, statistics concerning heroin use in New York and resources about the Good Samaritan Law, information about the warning signs of substance abuse and how to access treatment providers, and educational tools for parents and health care professionals.

Around the Agencies

SAMHSA publishes report on gambling problems

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released the report, “Gambling Programs: An Introduction for Behavioral Health Services Providers,” to serve as an introductory resource on the topic for mental health and substance use disorder providers, discussing causes, statistics, and treatment options for those struggling with gambling problems. The report also profiles different types of gambling: pathological gambling, gambling disorder, and problem gambling. The report provides information on rates of gambling problems, demographic characteristics of people with gambling problems, and the links between gambling problems and other mental health and substance use disorders. Additionally, the report discusses tools for assessing and treating a gambling problem.

SAMHSA announces new suicide prevention mobile app

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is developing a mobile app to better equip providers with tools for suicide prevention. The app, titled “Suicide Safe,” is based off of SAMHSA’s Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation and Triage (SAFE-T) card. Along with a virtual copy of the SAFE-T card, Suicide Safe also includes interactive sample cases, downloadable suicide prevention pamphlets, fact sheets, treatment resources, and a treatment services locator. The app is currently being developed for Apple and Android devices, and will be launching in early 2015.

CMS announces report on enrollment

On September 24th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the July 2014 Monthly Applications, Eligibility Determinations, and Enrollment Report. This report provides state data on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollment in the month of July. As of July, over 67 million individuals have enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. Included in this report are tables illustrating changes in enrollment rates for both Medicaid and CHIP in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report covers applicant eligibility numbers, and discusses findings from July’s enrollment data.

Resources

PDMP researchers publish study on the impact of unsolicited reporting

The PDMP Center of Excellence (COE) at Brandeis University has released a newly updated report, “Briefing on PDMP Effectiveness.” The updated briefing discusses how unsolicited reporting has helped reduce the frequency of doctor shopping by 36% since the concept’s introduction. The briefing includes research studies, evaluations, and surveys from over 60 sources. The COE data also suggests that PDMPs are contributing to better health outcomes, including declines in overdose deaths, emergency department visits, and treatment for prescription opioid abuse (Center of Excellence email update).

ATTC to hold clinical supervision webinar on October 14th

The National Frontier and Rural ATTC will be hosting a webinar on October 14th concerning the use of telehealth technologies and expanding the role of technology in clinical supervision. The briefing will discuss the impact of technology when confronting geographical barriers to clinical supervision in isolated areas. This webinar is the latest in ATTC’s Telehealth Tuesday media series, which explores the use of technology in substance abuse treatment and recovery. The webinar will be presented by Tobie Barton, Project Manager at CASAT.

 

Public View

2014 Annual Meeting Award Winners

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NASADAD would like to recognize the recipients of its annual awards for their work in the substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery field.

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SSA Award Recipients

NASADAD Service Award for Outstanding Service and Leadership in Support of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Authorities
Recipient: Stuart Gitlow, MD, MPH, MBA, President, American Society of Addiction Medicine

Award for Exceptional Leadership and Support of Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
Recipient: Gary Tennis, JD, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

SSA1

Service Award for Outstanding Service and Commitment to the Field of Substance Abuse Treatment and Prevention
Recipient: Kathy Skippen, Director, Idaho Division of Behavioral Health- Program Manager, Substance Use Disorders Services Program

SSA2

NASADAD Robert E. Anderson Service Award to Recognize an Individual’s Distinguished Service in the Field of Addiction Research, Training, and Evaluation
Recipient: A. Thomas McLellan, Ph.D., CEO and Co-founder, Treatment Research Institute

 

NASADAD President’s Award 
Recipient: H Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., MPH., C.A.S., F.A.S.M.

NASADAD President Award

NTN Award Recipients

Champion Award for Outstanding Support of the National Treatment Network by a Non-Member
Recipient: Flo Stein, Chief, Community Policy Management, North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities & Substance Abuse Services

NTN1

Representative of the Year Award for Outstanding Support of the NTN While Exhibiting Commitment and Dedication to the Field of Substance Abuse Treatment
Recipient: Frankie Long, Treatment Director, Program Accountability, South Carolina Dept. of Alcohol and Other Drug Services

NTN2

WSN Award Recipients

The WSN Leadership Achievement Award
Recipient: Frankie Long, Treatment Director, Program Accountability, South Carolina Dept. of Alcohol and Other Drug Services

The Women’s Services Champion Award
Recipient: Nancy K. Young, Ph.D., Director, Children and Family Futures and National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare

WSN1

NPN Award Recipients

Award of Excellence for Outstanding Contributions to the NPN by a Non-Member
Recipient: Jason Kilmer, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

Ketty Award for Commitment and Dedication to the NPN
Recipient: L. Diane Casto, MPA, Prevention & Early Intervention Manager, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services,Division of Behavioral Health

Recipient: Lifetime Achievement Award for Exemplary Contributions to the Field of Prevention over One’s Career
Barbara Fuller, MBA, CPS, Senior Prevention Specialist, JBS International, Inc

Alumni Award for Continued Leadership by a Former NPN in the Field of Prevention
Recipient: Janice Petersen, Ph.D.

Public View

2014 Exemplary Award Winners: Students Leading Students, Michigan

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Students Leading Students

Students Leading Students (SLS) is a non-profit organization established in 1982 in Michigan. It is an interactive, peer led program that utilizes a universal, student focused approach. The program provides bonding, skill development, and mentoring opportunities to its participants and aims to foster healthy and strong friendships among students, while working to delay the onset of alcohol and drug use among elementary, middle, and high school aged youth. SLS is the largest validated youth leadership prevention program serving Michigan schools, directly training 100 Michigan high school chapters annually. About 10-30 youth attend the full training through local and state trainings, ultimately reaching 1,000-3,000 youth annually. SLS has been rated over 90% for overall excellence, and has also been ranked the highest among 90 youth programs in Michigan.

For more information on the program, please visit their website.

CapitolHill, Public View

D.C. Update – September 17, 2014

News from NASADAD

  • NASADAD sends letter to Senate Judiciary Committee in support of confirmation of ONDCP Acting Director Michael Botticelli
  • NASADAD attends briefing on curing Hepatitis C
  • NASADAD attends briefing on mental health and substance abuse parity
  • NASADAD attends briefing on the opioid epidemic in large cities

Capitol Hill News

  • Senate passes resolution designating National Drug Take-Back Week and Heroin Abuse Awareness Month

Around the Agencies

  • NIAAA to run clinical trial of new medication to treat alcohol use disorder
  • NIH announces National Drug Facts Week to begin on January 26th
  • CMS expands Medicaid coverage for children with Autism
  • Webcast available for Recovery Month Kick-Off Luncheon

In the News

  • Community leaders call for end to Hepatitis C treatment access crisis
  • Faces and Voices of Recovery and Young People in Recovery approve plans to merge

News from NASADAD

NASADAD sends letter to Senate Judiciary Committee in support of confirmation of ONDCP Acting Director Michael Botticelli

NASADAD sent the letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Leahy (D-VT) and Ranking Member Grassley (R-IA) on September 9th following President Obama’s nomination announcement. The letter expresses NASADAD’s enthusiastic support for the nomination of Acting Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to serve as the permanent Director of ONDCP. The letter also recommends that the Committee take action on the nomination. The letter outlines Mr. Botticelli’s outstanding work to advance the field of substance abuse prevention, treatment, and recovery and his ability collaborate across sectors to advance public health goals. We will continue to update the membership as Mr. Botticelli’s confirmation process moves forward.

NASADAD attends briefing on curing Hepatitis C

Thomas Friedlander, Public Policy Intern attended the briefing, “Curing Hepatitis C – the Patient’s Perspective,” hosted by Gilead Sciences on September 12th. Panelists included a leading clinical researcher in the field of Hepatitis C and two former patients, one of whom served as the nation’s first regional Drug Czar in Baltimore. The briefing focused on SOVALDI, a new drug that reduces the time needed to cure Hepatitis C. Clinical researcher, Dr. Natarajan Ravendhran, discussed the need for SOVALDI to be available for Hepatitis C patients at all stages of the virus. Former patient, Mike Gimbel, addressed the relationship between Hepatitis C and heroin use. Panelists also discussed the challenge of mitigating the high costs of SOVALDI.

Moderator:

Coy Stout, Gilead Sciences

Panelists:

Dr. Natarajan Ravendhran, St. Agnes Hospital, MD

Mike Gimbel, Mike Gimbel Associates

Julian Cass

NASADAD attends briefing on mental health and substance abuse parity

Colleen Haller, Public Policy Associate and Thomas Friedlander, Public Policy Intern attended the briefing, “Realizing the Promise of Mental Health and Substance Use Parity: New Tools for Navigating Mental Health Coverage,” hosted by the National Council for Behavioral Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) on September 10th. The briefing featured presentations by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) and former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), as well as Chuck Ingoglia (National Ccouncil) and Robert Gebbia (AFSP) The panelists discussed the social and economic impact of the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) and announced the release of brochures designed to help consumers understand their protections under MHPAEA.

Panelists:

Fmr. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Kennedy Forum

Chuck Ingoglia, National Council for Behavioral Health

Robert Gebbia, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

NASADAD attends briefing on the opioid epidemic in large cities

Thomas Friedlander, Public Policy Intern attended the briefing, “The Opioid Epidemic: Reporting from the Front Lines of America’s Big Cities,” hosted by the Big Cities Health Coalition and Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) on September 16th. The briefing featured presentations by the Commissioners of the New York City and Chicago Public Health Departments as well as the Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. The panelists discussed the increase in opioid misuse in major metropolitan areas and described potential policy responses to the growing number of opioid overdoses. These policies include making naloxone more widely available to reverse overdoses, passing the Recovery Enhancement for Addiction Treatment (TREAT) Act to increase access to buprenorphine treatment, and expanding Good Samaritan protections to the federal level. Panelists also discussed the rising rate of deaths from opioid overdose and the need for greater prescription oversight.

Moderator:

Shelly Hearne, Big Cities Health Coalition

Panelists:

Mary Travis Bassett,  New York City Department of Public Health and Mental Hygiene

Bechara Choucair, Chicago Department of Public Health

Barbara Ferrer, Boston Public Health Commission

Capitol Hill News

Senate passes resolution designating National Drug Take-Back Week and Heroin Abuse Awareness Month

On Wednesday, September 10th, the Senate voted unanimously to designate the week between October 27th and November 2nd as “National Drug Take-Back Week.” The designated week seeks to raise awareness on drug take-back programs in an effort to reduce the accessibility of unused prescription drugs among adolescents. The resolution also designates October as “National Prescription Opioid and Heroin Abuse Awareness Month.” The designated month will be used to expand the discussion surrounding the nonmedical use of prescription drugs and heroin use. In 2011, 55% of accidental overdose deaths were attributed to prescription drugs, and 74% of prescription drug-related deaths were attributed to opioid pain relievers. The resolution was introduced by U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

Around the Agencies

NIAAA to run clinical trial of new medication to treat alcohol use disorder

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) announced that it will conduct the trial on “gabapentin enacarbil” beginning in early 2015. The study will test the drug’s safety and effectiveness in treating patients with alcohol use disorders. Director of NIAAA, George Koob, PhD, said “Current medications for alcohol dependence are effective for some, but not all patients. New medications are needed to provide effective therapy to a broader spectrum of alcohol dependent individuals.” Gabapentin has already been successful in other studies in helping patients reduce heavy drinking or stop drinking altogether. There are currently three medications approved by the FDA to treat alcohol use disorders: disulfram, acamprosate, and naltrexone.

NIH announces National Drug Facts Week to begin on January 26th

The National Institutes of Health sponsors National Drug Facts Week to bring adolescents together with scientific experts to educate students about the myths of drug use and addiction. The upcoming Week will run from January 26th – February 1st, 2015. Information on last year’s event and ideas for next year are available on the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s (NIDA) website. NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow says “National Drug Facts Week has been growing every year, from 92 events at its inception almost five years ago. This tells us how much teens – who are bombarded daily with misinformation about drugs – want science-based facts about drug use.” Events can be hosted by a variety of organizations including schools, community organizations, clinics, and others. The online toolkit provides information about how to run a successful event and offers resources on adolescent drug use and interactive tools.

CMS expands Medicaid coverage for children with Autism

According to an article from the Washington Post, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that comprehensive autism services must be covered for children by all State Medicaid plans any by the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Previously, some States only covered services for children with severe autism. The new guidelines require State Medicaid programs to cover the full range of services under the early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment services or EPSDT benefit. This applies to children with autism spectrum disorder, which includes Asperger syndrome and autistic disorder. The expanded coverage will reduce the cost of autism treatment for low income families, which now averages about $3 million.

Webcast available for Recovery Month Kick-Off Luncheon

The Entertainment Industries Council (EIC) announced the availability of the luncheon webcast on September 11th. Rob Morrison, Executive Director and Colleen Haller, Public Policy Associate attended the luncheon hosted by NAADAC. SAMHSA, Young People in Recovery (YPR), and the Association of Recovery Schools partnered with NAADAC to plan the event. The luncheon opened with a song written and performed by John McAndrew, a recovery advocate. ONDCP Acting Director Botticelli and Administrator Hyde provided brief remarks and Cynthia Moreno, Executive Director of NADAAC, welcomed participants and emceed the event. A number of other speakers presented on a panel to discuss treatment and recovery issues including CSAT Director Dr. Clark, CMHS Director Paolo del Vecchio, founding member of Young People in Recovery Mike DeAgro, and Executive Director of the Association of Recovery Schools Kristen Harper.

In the News

Community leaders call for end to Hepatitis C treatment access crisis

A coalition of Hepatitis C organizers, led by the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable (NVHR) called on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell to remove discriminatory barriers to treatment (used by both private and public payers) for patients with Hepatitis C. The coalition collected over 700 signatures from individuals, organizations, and medical providers, demanding greater availability for effective Hepatitis C treatment for all patients. In some cases, the most effective treatments are given to the sickest patients, meaning an individual with Stage One or Two Hepatitis C may have to wait until the virus advances before being eligible for the most effective treatment solutions. In addition, patients with substance use disorders may be required to maintain sobriety for an extended period of time before being treated. The coalition argues that this approach limits the number of patients who can be treated and does less to curb Hepatitis C outbreaks.

Faces and Voices of Recovery and Young People in Recovery approve plans to merge

Faces and Voices of Recovery (FAVOR) and Young People in Recovery (YPR) announced the merger on September 16th. Both organizations’ Boards of Directors approved the move which will be completed over the next several months. Mike DeAgro, Chairman of the Board of YPR said “Together, we are creating the New Recovery Advocacy Movement, combining previously separate organizations into a single, stronger, national voice that can advocate for the needs of millions of people of all ages who need support while seeking or in continued recovery.” The new organization will continue to advocate for robust recovery communities and to ensure that all individuals have the ability to achieve and sustain long-term recovery.