CEO Update | 16
NABH Sends Comments to HHS about Family First Prevention Services Act
NABH this week sent comments and a series of recommendations to HHS’ Administration for Children and Families (ACF) on how to implement the Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA) effectively.
In the letter, NABH emphasized that FFPSA creates a separate system of care for foster children in which judges and administrators—not clinicians—are left to make treatment decisions. The association urged ACF to work with stakeholders to create programs and services that can be tailored to every child’s needs and circumstances.
Specifically, NABH recommended that ACF clarify the definition of Qualified Residential Treatment Program (QRTP); specify assessor credentials; provide options under court review; and allow for flexibility in providing services and including families in treatment.
Click here to read the letter.
SAMHSA Developing Mental Health Workforce Initiative
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is developing a mental health workforce initiative that could be in place by late September, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use Elinore McCance-Katz, M.D., Ph.D., told federal lawmakers Thursday in a congressional hearing about implementing the 21st Century Cures Act.
According to a hearing summary, McCance-Katz said the program would set up specialized training programs targeted toward mental health and substance use disorders that focus on local needs. She also said SAMHSA has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to address needs in rural areas, and added that her agency is working on additional guidance for states on telehealth to better serve rural populations.
Click here to read McCance-Katz’s written testimony from the hearing.
Azar Names CMMI Director Boehler to Lead Value-based Agenda
HHS Secretary Alex Azar has named Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation Director Adam Boehler as a senior adviser for value-based transformation and innovation at HHS.
In this role, Boehler—who was appointed CMMI director in April—will lead the department’s broader value-based care agenda.
Politico reported this week that Azar’s selection completes his team of officials responsible for overseeing HHS’ main policy priorities. The others are Assistant Secretary for Health Brett Giroir as the top official to oversee the opioid crisis; Dan Best as senior adviser on drug pricing; and James Parker as senior adviser on health reform.
Opioid-related Deaths in the United States Increased by 345 percent from 2001-2016
The number of opioid-related deaths rose by a staggering 345 percent between 2001 and 2016, according to a new JAMA study that used data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers used a method in which they examined cross sections at different points to investigate deaths from opioid-related causes in the United States between Jan. 2, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2016. They concluded that while opioid prescribing and overdose are leading public health problems in North America, the precise public health burden has not been quantified.
The study showed that the burden was particularly high among adults aged 24 to 35 years old, and that 20 percent of deaths in this age group involved opioids in 2016.
“Furthermore, the aging population of people with opioid use disorder requires attention, as the burden of opioid overdose among adults aged 55 to 64 years is growing at a concerning rate,” the researchers noted. “These trends highlight a need for tailored programs and policies that focus on both appropriate prescribing and harm reduction in these demographics.”
Study Shows “Warm Handoffs” Do Not Improve Attendance at Behavioral Health Intake Appointments
Boston Medical Center researchers have found that “warm handoffs”—in which primary care clinicians introduce patients to behavioral health professionals—are not associated with better attendance at behavioral health intake appointments.
Rather, the most significant predictor of attendance at an initial intake was the time from referral until appointment, the researchers concluded in their study published in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Meanwhile, the authors call for a prospective study that compares different types of warm handoffs with standard referrals to determine if warm handoffs improve attendance at initial intake appointments, as well as which features are most beneficial.
Partial Hospitalization Program PEPPER Available
A release of the Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report, or PEPPER, with statistics through December 2017 is now available.
Freestanding PHPs can find their PEPPER through the PEPPER Resources Portal. Also, the TMF Health Quality Institute will host a webinar training session about the PHP PEPPER on Thursday, August 2 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET.
For more information, visit the PHP Training and Resources page, and access the PHP PEPPER User’s Guide before the webinar.
SAMHSA to Host Webinar on Supervising Peer Workers Next Week
SAMHSA will host a webinar about supervising peer workers on Thursday, July 26 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. ET.
The webinar’s presenters will outline the principles of supervising peer workers; share administrative, educational, and supportive supervisory practices; and discuss their own experiences supervising peer workers in different settings. Click here to register for the webinar.
In addition, SAMHSA has announced a series of webcasts that include discussions from experts in the field of addiction treatment, research, and policy on overcoming stigma and ending discrimination; why addiction is a disease; and reducing discriminatory practices in clinical settings.
SAMHSA developed the webcasts together with Massachusetts General Hospital’s Recovery Research Institute.