SAAS UPDATE - March 5, 2010
| SAAS Board Meeting Meets with ONDCP Director Kerlikowske Greetings! Suddenly there are many issues popping up at a national level that potentially may have an impact on those providing as well as those seeking services for addiction. From parity regulations, SSI/SSDI, the IMD exclusion, a proposed DSM-V, and confidentiality issues, we have the opportunity and responsibility to provide input. SAAS Board members were in town last week for a full agenda on these topics, as well as other public policy issues and Hill visits. In addition to SAAS business items, Board Members were briefed by staff from our partner, the Legal Action Center. The topics included parity, healthcare reform and advocacy information on the FY 2011 budget now before Congress. Specifically, SAAS is putting together committees to provide input on the newly-proposed DSM-V (see article below) and SSI/SSDI. However, the highlight of the meeting was a visit from ONDCP Director, Gil Kerlikowske (see picture above with SAAS President Julie Shepard). Director Kerlikowske spoke to the membership about the goals and priorities for his office in the coming year, and expressed strong support for ensuring that the millions of Americans in need of drug and alcohol prevention and treatment receive the services and care they need. After his opening comments, conversation centered around how providers can collaborate with the President's strategy, which should be public in about two weeks. He encouraged usy to partner with law enforcement at the state and national level, noting "I cannot think of a state police director who would not advocate for you." SAAS also expressed appreciation for the new initiatives with Federally Qualified Health Centers as a way to get more people into treatment. However we also asked for his help to ensure there is adequate funding for the increased demand. The SAAS Board also adopted a strategic plan designed to move the addiction field forward. Providers need training and tools to integrate with primary care, parity regulations, and healthcare reform. This priority will drive SAAS initiatives in the coming months and include on-site trainings, webinars, and other mechanisms to help providers with their business, clinical, and advocacy practices. Stay tuned for more information on how you can be involved. SAAS staff also had a private meeting with SAMHSA Administrator, Pam Hyde, to share information about SAAS and its initiatives for providers. We shared our priorities for moving the field forward and discussed ways to partner in support for providers. SAAS is collecting resources and feedback for SAMHSA's 10 priorities (see last month's article) and pledged to collaborate in any way helpful. As always, thank you for what you do to serve individuals, families, and communities. You continue to make a difference. Becky Vaughn CEO State Associations of Addiction Services |
| The Latest for SAAS Members |
| UST Helps SAAS Members Lower Unemployment Insurance Costs Employers are getting hit with a massive tax hike of 27.5% at a time when they can least afford it. State trust funds have been decimated by this prolonged economic downturn forcing a record 26 states to borrow a total of more than $30 billion from the federal government. States are scrambling to restore their unemployment insurance trust funds to cover claims, forcing employers in the state tax system to bear higher unemployment tax rates for the unforeseeable future. UST is a grantor trust that works with nonprofits to reduce their unemployment costs. Federal Law allows nonprofits to opt of the state UI system and pay dollar for dollar for claims charges. Now more than ever, it is important for nonprofits to exercise their option to leave the state UI system and pay the state only when there are unemployment claims charged against their organizations. UST offers nonprofits the ability to leave the state tax system and create an asset-based program for reimbursing the state for claims. All funds paid into the UST account belong to the agency and accrue to its benefit. The savings can be as high as 60% of what an agency is paying into the state system. UST works with SAAS and its state associations to bring this program to members. Contact Cheryl Jones, UST Account Executive at 1-877-265-2200 or click here to visit the UST website for more information. |
| Join us for the 2010 SAAS National Conference and Annual NIATx Summit The 2010 SAAS National Conference and Annual NIATx Summit is headed to historic Cincinnati, Ohio July 11-14. Check out the redesigned conference website for all the latest information on the upcoming conference. Registration is now open! We are also in the process of recruiting sponsors and exhibitors. We would like to invite our SAAS members and their providers to exhibit at the 2010 conference. If you have a particular program you want to show off to the field or if you just want to showcase your organization, there are great rates available for SAAS members. Contact exhibit and sponsorship coordinator Angela Halvorson at angela@toplineprofessionalstrategies.com. |
| SAMHSA News SAAS Members Invited to Weigh In On MHPAEA On February 19th, SAMHSA administrator Pam Hyde convened a panel discussion on the implementation of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA). To view the discussion, go to the SAMHSA home page and click on the link under the Administrator's picture. Comments on the interim final rules are still being solicited and are accepted through the federal rulemaking portal by clicking here. Note: comments directed to HHS should include the file code CMS-4140-IFC, comments to the Department of Labor should be identified by RIN 1210-AB30 and comments to the Treasury's Internal Revenue Service should be identified by REG-120692-09. HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces the Availability of Recovery Act Funds for Community Prevention and Wellness Initiative Cooperative Agreement Opportunities for National Organizations National organizations will have a key role in building a healthier nation as part of the new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative. HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced a funding opportunity for national public or private non-profit organizations to apply for $10 million in cooperative agreements to help communities decrease smoking and obesity, increase physical activity and improve nutrition. "National organizations will help move America toward better health," said Secretary Sebelius. "Last month the First Lady announced the Let's Move campaign calling for public-private partnerships across states, local governments, and committed and trusted organizations to help communities implement proven prevention strategies. This opportunity is one of many steps HHS is taking to putting America on track to live longer, healthier lives while reducing health care costs." Communities Putting Prevention to Work will change systems and environments-for example, improving access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity-and putting into place policies that will promote the health of populations. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the $10 million in available funds will be awarded to national organizations through a competitive agreement process. With these funds, national organizations will provide expert guidance to communities, help sustain prevention efforts when recovery act funding ends, and foster a national movement toward prevention by implementing key practices across their networks and systems. The HHS Office of Public Health and Science is leading the national organizations component of Communities Putting Prevention to Work in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "In the United States, 7 of 10 deaths result from chronic disease," said HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Howard K. Koh, M.D., M.P.H. "Tobacco, obesity, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity are significant drivers of the nation's disease rates. National organizations have the knowledge and experience to help communities tackle these hard issues. Additionally, national organization's extensive networks will expand the reach and impact of the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative." National organizations interested in applying for Communities Putting Prevention to Work- Leveraging National Organizations cooperative agreements can find more information at www.grants.gov. The application deadline is April 19, 2010. To learn more about the Communities Putting Prevention to Work- Leveraging National Organizations program please visit: http://www.hhs.gov/ophs/funding/index.html |
| Training and Resources Call For Conference Proposals Minnesota Association of Resources for Recovery and Chemical Health (MARRCH) is holding its 41st Annual conference on October 26-28, 2010 in St. Paul, MN. Inter Disciplinary Perspectives: Mobilizing Community Resources will focus on evidence-based and best practices that address topics on how to increase access to treatment, how to improve client engagement in treatment, how to increase treatment completion, continuing care, how to sustain behaviors necessary for long-term recovery, as well as ethics and cultural competence. For information or to submit a presentation abstract for one of the 40+ breakout sessions, please click here. The deadline for proposals is April 16th. New Edition of DSM Needs Your Comments The American Psychiatric Association's publication of the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in May 2013 will mark one the most anticipated events in the mental health field. As part of the development process, the preliminary draft revisions to the current diagnostic criteria for psychiatric diagnoses are now available for public review and comment. |
| News You Can Use New Movie Chronicles Founders of Al-Anon and AA A new Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, "When Love Is Not Enough," tells the dramatic and courageous love story of Lois and Bill Wilson and their battle with the disease of alcoholism, which led to the founding of Al-Anon and AA. It highlights how Lois's deep love for her husband kept them together through the scourge of his alcoholic drinking and finally led them into the sunlight of recovery. The movie, directed by John Kent Harrison, stars two-time Academy Award nominee Winona Ryder as Lois Wilson, the co-founder of Al-Anon and Golden Globe Award winner Barry Pepper as Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous. More than six years in the making, the movie is based on the critically-acclaimed book, "The Lois Wilson Story: When Love Is Not Enough," written by veteran author William G. Borchert, who was a close personal friend of Lois Wilson. The program will air on CBS on Sunday, April 25 at 9 p.m. EST. For more information, click here. How Drug and Alcohol Treatment Programs Can Comply With the 2010 Census The Legal Action Center has responded to the concerns of drug and alcohol residential programs and half-way houses, about cooperating with census takers without violating the federal confidentiality law and regulations. There are two ways in which patient-identifying information could conceivably be disclosed: (1) a census enumerator allowed into a program to assist patients in filling out the census forms would learn the identities of patients; (2) the program itself, if it turned over census forms with its residents' names to the Census Bureau, would identify the patients as persons receiving substance abuse treatment. LAC contacted the Census Bureau to determine exactly what information census takers will be seeking and how they plan to approach residential treatment programs. LAC has found a way for programs to cooperate fully with census takers without jeopardizing the confidentiality of their patients' identities. In sum, program staff may obtain training to self-enumerate, thereby avoiding the problem of a census representative interviewing patients directly. In addition, census forms do not require patient-identifying information. Visit lac.org to read and download a detailed discussion of the findings. |
| About SAAS
The State Associations of Addiction Services (SAAS) is the leading national organization advocating on behalf of state associations of prevention, treatment, and recovery providers and the individuals and families they serve. For more information about SAAS programs and initiatives contact bvaughn@saasnet.org. |
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