National Council for Behavioral Health

Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

Wednesday, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an Informational Bulletin outlining a framework for states to transform their substance use disorder care delivery systems and offering opportunities for states to receive intensive technical assistance through an upcoming learning collaborative.

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

Legislation before Congress would make important investments in our nation’s addiction system, providing support for prevention, treatment and recovery efforts in every state. The bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (S. 2839) authorizes up to $70 million per year over the next 10 years for activities related to overdose prevention, treatment alternatives to incarceration, medication assisted treatment, and much more.

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

The National Association of State Alcohol and Substance Abuse Directors (NASADAD) has released a new practice guide to inform states’ efforts to improve and expand treatment of substance use disorders among adolescents. The release of the adolescent substance use disorder guide comes at a critical time for teens and state substance abuse agencies, amid major health system changes – such as parity and the Affordable Care Act – that create greater opportunities for young people to receive substance use disorder services, yet require substantial additional work in states and communities to be fully realized.

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Michael Petruzzelli

, National Council for Behavioral Health

New legislation introduced in Congress would offer a number of grants to deter prescription drug abuse and assist individuals receiving addiction treatment. Authored by Reps. Bill Foster (D-IL) and Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), the Opioid Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (H.R. 5587).

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

September 18, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) hosted a congressional briefing on the Breaking Addiction Act, her legislation to improve Medicaid coverage of residential substance use treatment services.

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

New legislation introduced in Congress would provide a series of resources and incentives to help states and local governments expand drug treatment, prevention, and recovery efforts. Authored by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2014 would:

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

For the last 25 years, communities and individuals across the country have joined together in September to observe National Recovery Month and celebrate the journey and achievements of the millions of Americans who are in recovery from a substance use or mental health condition.

Recovery Month promotes the societal benefits of prevention, treatment, and recovery for substance use and mental health disorders; celebrates people in recovery; recognizes the contributions of treatment and service providers; and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible.

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Michael Petruzzelli

, National Council for Behavioral Health

Last week, President Obama nominated Michael Botticelli for the post of Director of the Office of National Drug Policy (ONDCP). The National Council has voiced strong support for his nomination, and we applaud President Obama’s decision to nominate Mr. Botticelli for this important post.

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Chuck Ingoglia

, National Council for Behavioral Health

Two months ago, many Americans had never heard of an obscure neurodegenerative disease that affects 30,000 people in the U.S. Now, thanks to the #IceBucketChallenge, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a household word. With that rise in awareness has come a stunning increase in private donations to ALS research and patient support – as of today, donors have contributed $88.5 million, compared to $2.6 million during this period last year.

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

Legislation before Congress would permit Medicaid payment for services provided in certain residential substance use treatment centers, helping to expand low-income Americans’ access to care. The National Council supports this legislation and encourages Capitol Connector readers to ask your Representatives to sign on as cosponsors of the Breaking Addiction Act.

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Michael Petruzzelli

, National Council for Behavioral Health

Legislation recently introduced in the Senate would authorize millions of dollars in overdose prevention programming and research in an effort to curb the growing trend of opioid overdose deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 100 people die every day in the United States due to an opioid drug […]

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

New legislation introduced in Congress would improve Americans’ access to substance use treatment by scaling back a federal payment exclusion for services provided in residential settings. Introduced by Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) and Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH) with eight cosponsors, the Breaking Addiction Act of 2014 (H.R. 5136) would establish a five-year demonstration project for 8-10 states in which federal reimbursement would be permitted for Medicaid services provided in certain residential settings known as “Institutes for Mental Disease.”

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Kirsten Reed

Policy Associate, National Council for Behavioral Health

On July 22, the National Council co-sponsored a forum hosted by Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) on women and addiction. Nationally-recognized researchers, practitioners, policymakers and Members of Congress including Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Rob Portman, Senator Kelly Ayotte, Senator Amy Klobucher, and Michael Botticelli, Acting Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy discussed policy priorities to help women in treatment for addiction.

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released an Informational Bulletin highlighting the use of FDA-approved medications in combination with evidence-based behavioral therapies—commonly referred to as “Medication Assisted Treatment” (MAT)—to help persons with mental health and substance use disorders recover in a safe and cost-effective manner. The bulletin provides background information about MAT, examples of state-based initiatives, and useful resources to help ensure proper delivery of these services.

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Rebecca Farley

Director, Policy & Advocacy, National Council for Behavioral Health

This week, the Obama Administration released the 2014 National Drug Control Strategy, the fourth since its inaugural report in 2010. The plan outlines the administration’s approach to reducing drug abuse and preventing and treating substance use disorders.

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Alanna Tievsky

Policy Associate

On June 12, the Office for National Drug Control policy (ONDCP) released the results of the 2013 Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Report (ADAM II) with new data underscoring the link between crime and substance use. Patterned on an earlier ADAM project, the survey gathered information from five counties on drug use and related issues from booked adult male arrestees within 48 hours of their arrest.

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Mohini Venkatesh

, National Council for Behavioral Health

The National Council and Friends of the NIDA’s congressional briefing on marijuana use over the past decade and the latest research on health effects.

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