Senate to Vote on COVID Relief

BREAKING NEWS

New “State of the Industry” data released by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing finds 40% of mental health and addiction treatment organizations surveyed will not be able to keep their doors open past the end of the year without additional federal relief. The data arrives amidst rising concerns about mental health, increases in overdoses, and a surge in overdose death rates in communities across the country. Read our press release and results here.

Senate to Vote on COVID Relief

Senators will convene today to begin voting on the “American Rescue Plan” for COVID-19 relief. Following passage, the legislation will move back to the House, where leadership has targeted the next week for another vote.

National Council Urges CDC to Include Individuals with SMI and SUD in Priority Vaccination Groups

The National Council, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors (NASMHPD), and National Association for Behavioral Healthcare (NABH) sent a letter to the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) urging the inclusion of individuals with serious mental illness and substance use disorder to Phase 1c COVID-19 vaccination groups. The letter also highlights the need for immediate distribution of vaccines directly to behavioral health providers as they navigate this public health crisis.

Enjoy NatCon21 Learning All May!

Not sure if you can attend NatCon21 from May 3-5? No worries! We’re making it easier for you to enjoy the largest conference in mental health and addiction treatment. With our on-demand learning, you can experience NatCon21 at your own pace! Registering for our virtual event gives you month-long access to our industry-leading curriculum – that’s hundreds of presentations at your fingertips!

ADVOCACY CORNER

Advocacy Tip of the Week. If a legislator or staff agrees to a virtual meeting, use whichever virtual platform they secure as the House, Senate, and state legislatures have different security requirements. Be sure to do a test run as well! For more tips, see our Advocacy Handbook.

HAPPENING ON THE HILL

Energy and Commerce Discusses the Future of Telehealth. Yesterday, the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing, “The Future of Telehealth: How COVID-19 is Changing the Delivery of Virtual Care.” Members discussed the importance of broadband expansion to fill coverage gaps, especially regarding mental health and substance use care.