SAAS UPDATE - September 18, 2009
August, normally a quiet month due to legislative vacations and the typical end of summer slowdown, was anything but boring. Healthcare reform discussions and strategizing continued with our friends and partners in DC. SAAS successfully wrapped up our fourth annual conference for senior leaders in addiction services in Tucson with positive accolades from attendees and exhibitors. Dr. Thomas McLellan was sworn in as Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Together with ONDCP Director Gil Kerlikowske, they have hit the ground running, seeking input for the President's 2010 National Drug Control Strategy. As I sat around the table with many of our partners in the field, there was a real sense that they were listening and were interested in what we had to say.
Unfortunately, the field suffered a great loss in the passing of our friend and advocate, Senator Edward Kennedy. A true believer and champion for the people we serve and their right to healthcare including substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services. While the accolades have poured in, I was particularly struck by the words of Marty Linksy who teaches at the Harvard Kennedy School in his Washington Post column (8/27/09). "As a former state legislator and a constituent of Ted Kennedy for over 30 years, I will remember him for his skill and courage in creating unusual alliances, in raising the heat, in holding on to his core values, and in disappointing his own followers, all in the interest of making progress on what was closest to his heart." Senator Kennedy has left a tremendous void in the United States Senate and in the hearts of those who admired and appreciated his leadership, eloquent words, and passion for the citizens of this country.
As we have rolled in to September, it doesn't appear that things have slowed down at all. This month is the 20th Annual National Recovery Month. A record number of celebrations have been taking place across the country. I attended the kick-off press conference and luncheon, a National Prayer Breakfast, and Recovery Rally here in DC and I continue to be overwhelmed and inspired by the stories of long-term recovery and the impact on families and communities. Please remember to go online to register any Recovery Month activities that may be happening in your area.
The 2009 Annual PRISM Awards Capitol Showcase was held September 15, an opportunity for those of us here in Washington to get a sneak preview of the 2009 Awards in celebration of Recovery Month. The 2009 Annual PRISM Awards Television Special will air via simulcast with FX Network, Lifetime Real Women, Ion Television, National Geographic Channel, Reelz Channel, Starfish, Retirement Living Television, mtvU and E! on September 26. Spread the word! These awards are a wonderful way to help reduce stigma in our communities.
Probably the most significant happening this month is the ongoing healthcare reform discussions. Members of the House and Senate have returned to DC and healthcare reform is, as expected, front and center. There are several versions of the reform bills floating around and they can be very confusing, but we and our lobbying team at Legal Action Center are tracking all of the versions and closely monitoring them for inclusion of addiction healthcare coverage. There is a good article in the September 17 Washington Post that can help sort out the different nuances of the various versions.
Fasten your seatbelts and stay tuned...
Becky Vaughn
Executive Director
State Associations of Addiction Services
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The Latest for SAAS Members
SAAS Partnership saves members money
Need to save a little money during these tough economic times? How about saving money on expenses you already pay? Did you know that 501(c)(3) status can save a nonprofit organization 25-60 percent on unemployment expenses? The savings can be as significant as securing a new grant!
SAAS, in partnership with the Unemployment Services Trust (UST), is excited to offer a program that could save you up to 60 percent on your unemployment expenses. Qualifying SAAS members are GUARANTEED to save 25 percent off their current state unemployment insurance tax rate!
UST saves nonprofit organizations money on their unemployment costs through lower rates and expert claims monitoring. 501(c)(3) organizations have an exclusive advantage over their for-profit counterparts: nonprofits can opt out of their state's tax-rated unemployment system and only pay dollar for dollar for the unemployment claims paid out to former employees. When nonprofits directly reimburse the state dollar for dollar for former employee's unemployment claims they are not subsidizing other employers that have higher unemployment claims. Unlike state unemployment taxes, UST annually reviews and returns any excess funds accrued from favorable claims and investment experience.
Request a quote today to see how much money your organization can save with UST, or for more information please visit www.ChooseUST.org, or call toll-free 1-888-249-4788 ext.1163. Please mention that you heard about UST from SAAS.
UST has also sent more detailed information to each SAAS member in the mail, please be on the lookout for it.
Illinois association members headed to Washington
Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association (IADDA) CEO Sara Howe has been encouraging her members to get more involved with policy issues in Washington, DC, since she took over in 2007. And this year, she is helping her members do just that.
IADDA is hosting a Hill Day in Washington in conjunction with the November SAAS membership meeting. The IADDA members will be briefed by the LAC lobbying team and then will meet with their Congressional delegation. IADDA's goal is to ensure that every member of the Illinois delegation will have had at least one contact over the course of the two days the Illinois contingent is in DC. The two-day event will conclude with a debrief with the LAC lobbying team and all of the Illinois association members.
"We have wanted to do this for a long time. However, with budgets being what they were over the course of the last few years we haven't been able to do it," Howe said. "Yet with the critical nature of the healthcare debate that is happening right now, we could not afford not to come to DC and meet with our delegates. We need to talk about how important the inclusion of addiction healthcare services is in any healthcare discussion. If healthcare is going to be reformed, we have to be a part of the discussion. The best way I could see that we could do this is through face-to-face meetings on the Hill."
LAC Director and President Paul Samuels met with the IADDA board at their meeting in June and talked about the importance of the healthcare reform debate and everyone's involvement in that discussion. This discussion helped to sell the IADDA board on the need for their involvement on the Hill.
Howe said the benefit of doing the visit in conjunction with the SAAS meeting is cost-savings. IADDA was able to take advantage of the reduced cost in hotel as well as the cost savings in doubling up meetings for the IADDA staff to travel to Washington.
If you are an IADDA member, look for your Hill visit registration form in your inbox in early October.
Informative Healthcare Reform Briefing
On September 9, SAAS participated with the Whole Health Campaign in a briefing on the importance of including Substance Use Disorders and Mental Illness in Healthcare Reform. Click on the Behavioral Healthcare Central website for a summary and the opportunity to hear Representative Patrick Kennedy who participated in the briefing.
Day One Honored by Maine State Council
Congratulations to Day One, selected as one of the "Best Places to Work in Maine for 2009." The program, sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, recognizes companies that have established and consistently fostered outstanding workplace environments. Day One, Maine's leading agency dealing with teen drug and alcohol abuse, provides training and education, assessment, screening, referrals and treatment for individuals, families, schools and communities throughout Maine.
SAAS welcomes our newest member: Missouri Coalition of Community Mental Health Centers
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Grants and Funding
Behavioral Health Sites Eligible For ARRA Funds
The 2009 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) provided $200 Million in additional funding for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) to add more sites and up to 3,000 more clinicians to the NHSC Loan Repayment Program (LRP). Behavioral Health sites are eligible to apply. Visit the NHSC website for more information and a list of State Primary Care Offices for help with the application.
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SAMHSA News
New SAMHSA Website Highlights Latest News in Behavioral Health Financing
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) today launched a new website that features up-to-date information on the financing of mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment services and delivery systems. The website will also provide relevant articles from across the behavioral health financing industry, reports, briefs, and other items. Visitors to this new website will also be able to access SAMHSA's Weekly Financing News Pulse, a new product containing information about national, state, and local behavioral health financing news, including upcoming hearings on Capitol Hill.
The new website and Weekly Financing News Pulse are both products of SAMHSA's Financing Center of Excellence (COE). Established by SAMHSA in November of 2008, the COE draws upon the services of leading experts in the field of behavioral health financing to provide information and analysis that can help policy-makers, payers, and providers offer high quality, cost-effective services to individuals with mental and substance use disorders. You can receive the Weekly Financing News Pulse automatically by signing up for SAMHSA's eNetwork.
Medication-Assisted Treatment Booklets for Patients and Families
Medication-assisted treatment is an effective and increasingly popular means of helping those with opioid addiction recover their lives. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) is pleased to announce the availability of three consumer booklets. Each provide basic information about medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction, describe medication options including naltrexone and buprenophine, and explain how medication options fit into the overall recovery process.
Download or order your free copy today by clicking here!
Publication Offers Guidance on Substance Abuse Treatment Program Implementation
Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) 31: Implementing Change in Substance Abuse Treatment Programs provides guidance on integrating evidence-based practices (EBPs) into substance abuse treatment programs. Written for substance abuse treatment administrators, managers, and supervisors, TAP 31 suggests practical and efficient approaches for introducing and implementing EBPs. It includes steps for assessing an organization's readiness to adopt new practices, identifying priorities in adopting EBPs, evaluating progress, and sustaining change overtime. TAP 31 complements the best practices described in the CSAT's Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs). Click here to download your free copy.
Subscribe Now to Free eNetwork
The SAMHSA eNetwork offers a quick and easy way to get email updates on new substance abuse and mental health information. It is free and only takes two clicks to subscribe. Select the topics that are important to you, and stay current with the news and information you need. Please take a minute to check it out-you'll be glad you did!
$46 Million In State and Community Prevention Performance Grants Awarded
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently awarded $46 million over five years in Partnerships for Success: State and Community Prevention Performance grants. This program is designed to help states and U.S. territories reduce state-wide substance abuse rates by addressing gaps in their current prevention services and increasing their ability to reach out to specific populations or geographic areas with serious, emerging substance abuse problems.
The grants aim to achieve a quantifiable decline in state-wide substance abuse rates by incorporating a strong incentive to grantees that have met or exceeded their prevention performance targets. The grants build on the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), which requires that grantees utilize a five-step, data-driven planning model to ensure that program services address areas of greatest need. The key to the SPF program is that it offers monetary incentives in the form of program expansion supplements to the grantees that succeed in achieving critical performance outcomes by the end of the third year of the five-year program.
"These grants will help provide essential substance abuse prevention services to people and communities that might otherwise not get them," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. "Partnerships for Success also provides these services in ways offering measurable results and opportunities for developing more effective prevention strategies."
The four grantees are the Colorado Prevention Partnership for Success (CPPS), The Illinois Partnerships for Success, The Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) and the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services (DADAS). For additional information go to www.samhsa.gov.
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News You Can Use
Legal Action Center's Online Courses and DVD Series Now Available
The Legal Action Center's lawyers are the nation's leading experts in confidentiality of alcohol and drug treatment and prevention records. They travel all over the country conducting trainings for addiction treatment centers and their staffs. Now, their expertise is even more accessible than ever with the release of their newest course in the Confidentiality Training Series:
A Guide to the Federal Drug and Alcohol Confidentiality Regulations. This DVD series consists of three segments designed to explain both the basic requirements of 42 C.F.R. Part 2 and discuss the nine exceptions to the non-disclosure rules.
LAC also offers self-paced online courses. Learn about confidentiality from the comfort of your home or office. Courses satisfy HIPAA training requirements and provide continuing education credits for users who pass the automatically graded self-tests. Visit the LAC website for registration and purchasing information.
Policy Brief Released By Carnevale Group
The Research and Policy Analysis Group of Carnevale Associates, LLC, has released its latest Policy Brief examining the latest standstill in reducing illicit drug use. The Continued Standstill in Reducing Illicit Drug Use: Is the Policy-Budget Mismatch to Blame? describes what can happen when a drug policy fails to align program resources with its strategic goals and objectives. Analyzing data from SAMHSA's just-released National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the group found that the nation has experienced a standstill in progress to reduce drug use so far in this decade and attributes this lack of progress to the eight-year failure of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to meaningfully match its federal drug control budget with the demand reduction goals set forth by its own policy.
Carnevale Associates, LLC, is committed to making publications which cover important policies, trends, and data related to substance abuse available to policy-makers, professionals, and other stakeholders. For more information about the policy brief, click here.
Essay Contest Announced
In celebration of National Alcohol & Drug Addiction Recovery Month, the Addiction Technology Transfer Center's (ATTC) National Office is pleased to announce its 2nd annual essay contest, "In My Own Words..." The essay contest is open to any currently enrolled High School or College Recovery School Student. The submission deadline is October 16, 2009.
All entrants will receive a special certificate and thank you gift from the National Office, and there will be additional prizes for first, second and third place submissions. The entries will be judged by an Essay Review Board composed of ATTC Network Steering and Association of Recovery School board members. All essays will be judged on three unique criteria: (1) quality of writing; (2) thoroughness of response to each open-ended statement as outlined in the entry form; and (3) overall impression and impact of essay.
Essay winners will be announced in the November 2009 electronic publication of Eye on the Field and on the ATTC Network Web site. In addition, a compilation of essays will also be shared at the 2009 ATTC Network Meeting in Kansas City, MO, on November 3-6, 2009. Click here for the official guidelines and submission information.
Searching For HIPAA-Compliant Software?
Through HIPAA, the U.S. government provides a set of instructions and guidelines for working with patient health data, but health care providers need to ensure that a software package will comply with the HIPAA standards. Click here for a detailed article with relevant information with regard to the current system of electronic health records.
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Research Report
Many Baby Boomers are Continuing Illicit Drug Use into Their Later Years
Many baby boomers (Americans in the generation born between 1946 and 1964) are continuing to use illicit drugs as they grow older, causing the rate of illicit drug use to go up within the 50- to 59-year-old age segment of the population. According to a new analytical publication produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), those aged 50 to 59 reporting use of illicit drugs within the past year has nearly doubled from 5.1 percent in 2002 to 9.4 percent in 2007 while rates among all other age groups are statistically staying the same or decreasing.
An Examination of Trends in Illicit Drug Use among Adults Aged 50 to 59 in the United States is the first in a series of new scientific reports being published periodically by SAMHSA's Office of Applied Studies that will provide detailed analyses on important substance abuse and mental health issues challenging the nation. "These findings show that many in the Woodstock generation continue to use illicit drugs as they age," said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick, D.D.S., M.P.H. "This continued use poses medical risks to these individuals and is likely to put further strains on the nation's health care system -- highlighting the value of preventing drug use from ever starting."
The report analyzes many aspects of this phenomenon including the types of illicit substances involved, different demographic and behavioral factors associated with higher rates of use, and other issues. The data used in the analysis comes from a wide range of sources including 16,656 respondents aged 50 to 59 participating in the 2002 through 2007 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health - the nation's premier national public health survey of its kind. The full report is available on SAMHSA's OAS website.
